INIT915

     No one should be out of a job. Simple math is that the number of calls has not gone down, just the number of companies  answering those calls has gone down; by ONE.
     The staff will  need to shift to other providers that are expanding into the Transcare void. Sadly though, many will lose  vacation pay, salary, seniority, schedule and partners. ALL of which is very sad. A forced job change is always traumatic.
    Company names no longer in the picture:
Abbey-Richmond, A1, AA, Approved, Ambassador, Empire, Care 1, Park, Admiral, Metropolitan, Metro-North. Hudson Valley, Transcare, National... any others? Still lots of open jobs and hiring despite all those companies going away.
 

Tomorrow, after 19 years in EMS, 14 of which as a Paramedic, all in the paid sector, with some of the best agencies around, and some of the BEST people in the profession,I am letting my NYS Paramedic certification expire.  I obtained my EMT through the EMT class given at Irvington VAC by Judy Mayer in 1997, EMT-I at Phelps with Barry Nechis in 1999, and my Paramedic cert was obtained at Northeastern University in Boston, MA in 2003 (which at the time was the best Paramedic program in the nation).  I've been certified and credentialed in NY, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Texas, and National Registry over the years. I am currently happy in my current career, but I had hoped to work per-diem as a Paramedic, on the side, just because I enjoy helping people, the challenge, and keeping my skills up. Most recently, I worked a 12 hours shift Sundays at Garrison VAC (thanks to Allan, Derek and RIP Pat), as a paid EMT, just for some extra money and to stay relevant in EMS, a job I left because of my cert expiring and my role and dedication at my full time job increasing.
 
With this, New York state is one of the most difficult states to retain your certification. First off, the NYS DOH website is extremely unclear, murky, and outdated.  Even if you complete CME's and Call Audits, you can't do the pilot refresher if you're not affiliated with an agency that  participates in that. Additionally, the class refreshers I have found don't work with my schedule, and require a lot of time to complete and study. Add on top of that, the need to get REMSCO credentialing for each region you work in, and can't obtain it if you're not affiliated, and all that a REMSCO cert requires on top of everything else, . And to have to pay for a lot of that out of pocket. I'd love to continue working Paramedic per-diem as mentioned above, but it doesn't look like that's going to be possible, right now. I even considered refreshing as an EMT, but even that is a lot. Maybe one day an opportunity will come my way to refresh, but it doesn't look like that will be possible. It was also nice to have something to fall back on.
 
For comparison purposes, other states allow Paramedics to be licensed professionals, and not have to prove themselves every 3 years. Some agencies don't do the whole REMAC thing, and the agencies protocols and Paramedic direction are usually set by the EMS Physician at a hospital. Some allow you to plain challenge using a computer testing facility.  And with technology today, I could do all of my CME and Call Audits online.
 
So, tomorrow is going to be a sad day for me. As I said above, I would have loved to go back to WEMS or Empress per diem,  especially to help them when manpower is stretched thin with everything now, but NYS doesn't want to keep pace with EMS recertification trends, and technology, they just want to lump on more and more requirements and changes in protocols without making any type of progressive change to retain experienced providers or recruit new providers, such as truly accepting NREMT-P reciprocity and utilizing modern technology for continuing ed. With this, I think the coming years will see a Paramedic shortage in the state.
 
Sorry for my rant. I'm probably repeating myself here. I've had such a great experience working in EMS. I was trained by the best programs with the best instructor. I've worked for great agencies, for and with the greatest people, and have learned so much. Bill Rothschild is my mentor and EMS hero and has done tons for my career, along with so many other people. Empress EMS provided a terrific foundation for my career, something I'll always be appreciative and loyal to that agency for.  Stamford Hospital also molded my BLS career. UMass City Of Worcester EMS (MA), Norwalk Hospital Paramedics (CT), and UMDNJ Newark EMS (NJ) were great places to get experience as a Paramedic. WEMS was a great system and area to work in, with great people, and was very challenging. Scott and White (TX) and Williamson County EMS (TX) were great and interesting places and a different world.  I'm actually pretty devastated over this, but accept it. I also loved my careers as a career Firefighter and 911 Dispatcher. Hopefully I can return one day.
 
I've been through a lot personally throughout my EMS career, especially during the past couple years, navigating through divorce, serious illnesses and hospitalizations, and even homelessness on the streets of Los Angeles for a couple of months. Thank you to Daryn Baia for giving me a shot to restart my Paramedic career and a second time around at Empress when I first returned to NY after my divorce. Bill Rothchild for being Bill Rothchild. My brotha from another motha RWC130 for helping me get back to NY from LA and start again, and a place to stay until I got on my feet again to say the least. A shout out to the barrier door hating, Aerialscope loving great friend and big brother Matt Manfredi who has given me a chance after being homeless, and the stability, encouragement, and resources to rebuild my life, and have a great job at a great place that allows me a career in emergency services and use a skillset that keeps me challenged everyday, with the greatest coworkers, customers, and the coolest products (and best office in the place!), and having the security and reassurance of not needing a "fall back on" for the time being. Mad Dog. And my mom for all her support and my Dad and Grandmother for helping me from heaven. There are tons of other people I'm not forgetting, but it's too numerous to list here, including all my friends here.
 
Although I still work evenings and weekends sometimes, I will never miss the late jobs or posting, lol!
 
Thanks for listening.
Seth C Granville
 
 
 

 
[/rant]
 

 
That looks like a NJ seal.

 
 
If I may add, "a PERFECT EXAMPLE of SPEAKING before you are THINKING". Yes "paratrooper75" as you say above; "Get the facts before posting.....". Thank you for that very good piece of advice.
 
"Bye Bye paratrooper75".

Ummm.  Hmmmm.

Thank goodness Empress had the assets to step in. This is a prime reason why municipalities need to rethink farming out EMS to save a few bucks. You trade stability and possibly longevity just to slash budget lines.

How'd you get a copy? 

LOL

Good thread Seth, Paratrooper jumped and forgot to pull his ripcord.

They sure did. They ruined one of the best EMS departments around with some of the best EMT'S & Medic's I ever worked with for over 10 years. A lot 
of peoples lives changed due to Transcare coming into  Montefiore (Our Lady Of Mercy) and destroying  that department. It was a end of an era. 

This is the company that lowballed Montefiore and destroyed Our Lady Of Mercy EMS, which was a great EMS service, putting profits over people, and causing people to lose good paying, stable hospital jobs.

 
I'm pretty sure Seth put up disclaimers saying that it was rumor first before he edited his post to be fact.  And I heard about the situation from someone in ROCHESTER (mind you that is a 6 hour drive away) before I heard about it here in Westchester.  The facts are here.  But, whatever, you're not on this site any more, or so you say.

Better cancel your Lohud subscription too...

http://www.lohud.com/story/news/local/westchester/2016/02/24/transcare-ambulance-bankruptcy/80868708/
 

What if certain firefighters don't place their trust in god. Maybe since the department and community is so heavily involved in religion, that they're terrified to speak their mind for fear of being shunned or mocked. Or what if they place their faith in Allah? This isn't about political correctness, but about what your department is now representing. Technically it's a government entity and it should not be endorsing ANY religion or lack there of. Could you imagine the uproar if the department placed "There is no God," or "Allah Akbar" on the side of their apparatus because someone donated their time and money to put it on?
 
I'm all for individual PEOPLE believing whatever they want to believe. Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhist, Amish, Scientology, Atheism, Pastafarianisim Flying Spaghetti Monster, but leave it out of the organization of the Fire Department. Don't ram it down my throat, or try and convert me, and I won't ram my beliefs down yours and try and convert you. And before people think I'm bashing religion, or accuse me of being someone who think's religion is evil, if what you believe makes you happy, doesn't harm or hamper anyone else's happiness or way of life, I'm all for it.

Date: 02/17/16
Time: 815 PM
Location: State Route 9A
District: Originated in Croton, moved into Cortlandt, and ended in Buchanan
Units:
Croton PD - Patrol, Detectives, Commander
NYSP - Patrol, BCI, K9, Commander
WCPD - Patrol, Aviation
Buchanan PD - Patrol
 
Description: Village of Croton PD in pursuit of a failure to comply, assisted by NYSP units. Vehicle crashed on Route 9A I/F/O Buchanan Fire Dept. Subject bailed and perimeter established with ongoing search. 

Date: 02/17/16
Time: 815 PM
Location: State Route 9A
District: Originated in Croton, moved into Cortlandt, and ended in Buchanan
Units:
Croton PD - Patrol, Detectives, Commander
NYSP - Patrol, BCI, K9, Commander
WCPD - Patrol, Aviation
Buchanan PD - Patrol
 
Description: Village of Croton PD in pursuit of a failure to comply, assisted by NYSP units. Vehicle crashed on Route 9A I/F/O Buchanan Fire Dept. Subject bailed and perimeter established with ongoing search. 

Date: 02/17/16
Time: 815 PM
Location: State Route 9A
District: Originated in Croton, moved into Cortlandt, and ended in Buchanan
Units:
Croton PD - Patrol, Detectives, Commander
NYSP - Patrol, BCI, K9, Commander
WCPD - Patrol, Aviation
Buchanan PD - Patrol
 
Description: Village of Croton PD in pursuit of a failure to comply, assisted by NYSP units. Vehicle crashed on Route 9A I/F/O Buchanan Fire Dept. Subject bailed and perimeter established with ongoing search. 

For those that don't know. I have some sort of flu that's more or less made moving my muscles and joints immensely painful, and I've been battling that for the last week, and just yesterday started battling an 102 degree fevers. However, the one thing I hade couldn't get out of  scheduled for months was to get this website upgraded, and I was mucking my way through it via several naps.
 
So, I'm just was laying down, about to fall asleep, when, one of my best buffy friends called me. He said the truck was done, and looked awesome. I couldn't just sit here and wait any longer, I've been waiting for this truck to come out of the Greenburgh Central Garage Heavy Duty Body Shop. Everything mechanical, body, electrical including radios, etc has been done via the Town Garage. And they did a fantastic job on this pierce that will bring Greenburgh SOD to new levels. So, being this is literally 2 blocks from my house, I bundled up, walked like a stick amn, and even vomited a couple of times so I can get this shot for EMTBravo
 
Greenburgh PD has acquired this from NYPD surplus, it's a 2003 Mack MR/Saulsbury Ex-Truck 5. It will replace their current 1988 International/Hackney that was converted from it's previous life as a Poland Springs delivery truck for the Technical Rescue team, and/or be used to carry SWAT equipment.
 
Best wishes to all the officers in Greenburgh SOD who's lives will be made easier by this truck.
 
This truck is a prime example of what municipal cooperation can do, Special Thanks to msm232, Bob Errico , and the body shop guys for the shotperation can do, Special Thanks to msm232, Bob Errico , and the body shop guys for the shot
 
 

At risk of unintentionally insulting volunteers, I might ask if the FASNY study took into account how much money would be saved in property/insurance losses if a paid staffed FD was there to effect more positive outcomes sooner? Not a knock on the potential quality of work that a VFD can accomplish, but a realistic view of how much different a fire looks at minute 4 vs. minute 12. Take the same firefighters put them in the station when the call comes in nearly every time, and see how that affects the outcomes.

It's about professionalism, standards, and supervision, or lack thereof, and this reflects on the organization as a whole that this is acceptable behavior. This is not the first time something like this has occurred (Squuuaaad 15), and not the first time someone has called in and their terminology has been rephrased by the dispatcher to sound more "buffy". What would happen if the dispatcher decided to dispatch decided to pronounce street names his or her own personal way, and units went to the wrong address? When you have a voice that everyone is listening to, you are in the public eye. As a dispatcher myself, this would never fly in my organization, and the Chiefs of our agency would not find it acceptable. It's ok to sneak in humor here and there when appropriate, but the initial dispatch should be consistent and professional agency wide. What happens to a callers confidence if their town is mispronounced? Or the responders in that town that their name is being mocked? Dispatchers have to work extra hard to gain respect, and it takes one bad apple to ruin the whole bunch's reputation.

Looks like we got walloped lol. I've got close to a foot here in Ardsley.
Ardsley Highway Department Truck 1, 2010 International Workstar 6x6 plowing Ashford Ave westbound this afternoon.

They probably set relations between their agencies back considerably. I hope they charge them criminally.

They probably set relations between their agencies back considerably. I hope they charge them criminally.

Every time politics comes up here, people later regret it.

They probably set relations between their agencies back considerably. I hope they charge them criminally.

Terrible conduct from sworn Fire Officers, if the cop didn't have the footage, he would have had two "professionals" from another uniformed service successfully jam him up. All over a rat expired plate ticket.
Hopefully Dr.Alexander does the right thing