Re: Now Is The Time

[William Wingfield <will@willwingfield.com>]

Sign me up.

Will Wingfield, medic

---- Original message ----
>Date: Fri, 2 May 2003 23:42:47 EDT
>From: AirWolfMedic@aol.com  
>Subject: Now Is The Time  
>To: flightmed@flightweb.com
>
>   Hello everyone!  This brief posting is in response to both
>   of the dialogues concerning paramedics (ie. Nurse vs.
>   Paramedic and Standardization of Paramedicine).  Wow!  Many
>   heart-fealt comments, and I share the same sentiments as
>   many of the postings.  I am very curious - is there anyone
>   else that has read these threads that wondered, "what would
>   the effect be on our profession if these were focused and
>   targetted efforts directed at law-makers and legislation
>   instead of at each other?"  This might be an extremely naive
>   statement, but I believe we could make an extremely powerful
>   impact on our own chosen careers.  No - I take it back - I
>   am not naive.  I have been doing this job for eighteen
>   years.  I, like many of you, have seen this fight before. 
>   The difference is I believe it can be won.  However, we as
>   paramedics must overcome a stumbling block that has been
>   present since I can remember (the '80s).  First of all, the
>   'paramedics' of the previous sentence refers to
>   EMT-Paramedics, First Responders, EMT-Basics,
>   EMT-Intermediates, CCEMT-Ps, and RN-EMT-Ps.  In other words,
>   all those that are licensed or certified to treat patients
>   (clients) in the prehospital setting.  OK, back to the
>   stumbling block.  It is imperative that we all come together
>   as one voice and collectively come to an agreement on what
>   it is we want to achieve.  This is the first step.  I know -
>   you're thinking, this guy is chiquitas thinking we can all
>   come together on anything!  Well, take a look back through
>   the threads.  One theme that lives in most is money and a
>   desire to be able to provide better for our families.  All
>   of us that work in this field deserve to make more money -
>   period.  Not for one second do I believe our employers will
>   step up and say, "Gee Greg, I've been watching you and
>   reading your charts and, ya know, I think I'll give you a
>   five doller per hour raise just because you deserve it."  If
>   we collectively agree that we should be able to make more
>   money, have decent health insurance, dependent care, a
>   retirement, and a life then we can have it.  The key is
>   collectively.  This collectively and unison and togetherness
>   are warm and fuzzy ideals that have already been laid out
>   for us.  Yes!  The ground work is done.  The federal
>   government has set the basic standards adopted by the states
>   for those that can operate in an emergency medical vehicle -
>   whether it be a helicopter or a high-top hearse with "Radio
>   Dispatched and Oxygen Equipped" plastered on the side of it,
>   we are already linked.  I completely agree that there will
>   be ten more to take my place on the helicopter or
>   ambulance.  But if in unity, we approach the same government
>   that set these standards and appropriately and diligently
>   sought our goals, they would have to be met.  Why?  Because
>   there is no other group of people that can be placed in an
>   ambulance - the government said so!  OK, so where do we go
>   from here?  Now is the time for a strong and unified
>   organization whose goals are to achieve those stated above. 
>   Well, there is already the NREMT, NAEMT, NFPA, etc. . .  Can
>   these organizations help us?  Absolutely!  Each of these has
>   a different agenda primarily focused on education and
>   standardization.  They are all doing a good job of setting
>   benchmarks which are necessary for the advancement of the
>   profession.  I mean no disrespect to these organizations
>   whatsoever, but while advancing the profession, the
>   professional and his family are left behind still making the
>   same wage, many without health insurance, little chance for
>   real advancement, and only a few with a 401K.  I truly feel
>   that an organization or association or whatever you (or,
>   better yet, US) decide to call it could work closely with
>   the others to make great strides in our chosen careers. 
>   Nurses should not be alienated in our efforts.  We can learn
>   from their struggles and they can be an extremely valuable
>   asset.  Not to mention, we work with them daily.  We are the
>   ones that chose to work in this field, and we are the only
>   ones that can choose to make a difference.  Enough
>   rhetoric.  Now is the time for action.
>
>   Any takers?
>
>   Gregory B. Wolf LP, CCEMTP
>   Flight Paramedic

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