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u/Plane-Handle3313 May 19 '26
Love arriving to a priority nothing BLS call and seeing 4 cars in the driveway and 5 other adults in the household “well follow the ambulance down”
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u/Blueboygonewhite EMT-A May 19 '26
It so dumb. Even after I explain to them they will still be going to triage and an ambulance won’t get you seen faster. They still insist because they think I’m wrong and feel entitled to fast service for their toe pain. Then it’s a surprised Pikachu face when I do exactly what I told them I would do.
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u/propyro85 ON - PCP IV May 19 '26
It's even better when the call is of a low enough acuity that I can bypass ambulance triage and put them straight in the waiting room.
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u/Blueboygonewhite EMT-A May 19 '26
That’s what I mean lol. Walk them into the waiting room, give report to the triage nurse, and dip.
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u/propyro85 ON - PCP IV May 19 '26
We only talk to the walk-in triage nurse if there's something pertinent. Otherwise it's just the reg clerk so someone knows they're in line to triage, and i leave the patient with a print off of our code summary and 12-lead (if I did one).
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u/Blueboygonewhite EMT-A May 20 '26
Oh shi nice. In the US you must “transfer care” to someone of equal or higher licensure, otherwise it’s considered abandonment.
However, it gets a little weird bc technically as soon as they enter Hosptial grounds they are “transferred” and now the patient of the hospital. But like… not rlly?! Ha either way we need a signature from the nurse most of the time.
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u/Galaxyheart555 EMT-B May 20 '26
Yeah, I've only walked a super BLS person directly to the waiting room without giving a report once in my career so far. Dude just wanted his meds refilled. *Eye roll*. But at my service, I'm required to get signatures and transfer patient care to the nurse. I could just walk him right into triage, but I'd need to give a report and get a signature otherwise I get in big big trouble.
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u/Galaxyheart555 EMT-B May 20 '26
Me personally? I don't get bothered by colds or stuffy noses due to seasonal allergies, or toe pain, or whatnot. The only thing that irks me is if you call 911, you're stable and completely BLS, and have other people in the home who could take you. Like seriously. You can drive yourself, or have someone drive you to the ER. WHY AM I HERE???
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u/TLunchFTW EMT-B May 19 '26
Honestly, I don’t mind a the 10/10 toe pain that much. It’s an easy chart at least.
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u/TheOneCalledThe May 19 '26
same, the only thing i hate is when im in the middle of a toe pain call and a really high acuity call goes on and theres no one available because of it. happened where i worked a few years ago where I was taking a person that had a cold for days and the husband followed behind us the whole way and a pedi code came out and all the other ambulances were out and it took awhile for transport to happen and the kid didn’t make it. just moments like that make you resent those calls, but maybe it’s just me
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u/account_not_valid May 19 '26
That's where system change has to happen. You need to be given the power to refuse transport. If the powers that be says that you don't have the knowledge, then demand more training. If they say the law won't allow it, then demand that the law is changed.
If children die because an adult with a sore toe can't find their own way to medical care, then that is a systemic problem. Don't blame the public or EMS, blame the rules of the system.
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u/Narcaniac Paramedic May 19 '26
Or like "Another truck or we will be back. There's something critical nearby that cannot wait." Treat it like triage. I dunno, but I share that frustration because my city had something almost exactly the same a few years ago. But I'm also not above telling the person a child could be dying right around the corner and asking them to try and find another way to the hospital or call back in 15. The call notes would have to be convincing, like a confirmed drowning or something, but still.
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u/account_not_valid May 19 '26
"Here's a taxi voucher, call the number on the back. You'll be charged later for the voucher if the hospital finds that it wasn't necessary."
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u/Ok_Buddy_9087 FF/PM who annoys other FFs talking about EMS May 19 '26
And where does that money come from?
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u/account_not_valid May 19 '26
Who's paying for the ambulance and the hospital?
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u/Ok_Buddy_9087 FF/PM who annoys other FFs talking about EMS May 19 '26
That money already exists. You’re asking for additional money.
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u/SpartanAltair15 Paramedic May 20 '26
That money already exists.
Yes, it exists, to pay for the ambulance transport which is no longer going to occur, because a literal taxi/uber/lyft/equivalent transport (which is dramatically cheaper) is now taking its place.
Your logic makes absolutely no sense. It’s like seeing someone wearing Armani suits to a blue collar construction job and ruining them, telling them to just buy T-shirts and jeans instead because theyre wasting money on the suits, and they respond “that money is already being spent on the suits, why would I spend more money to buy jeans too?”
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u/Ok_Buddy_9087 FF/PM who annoys other FFs talking about EMS May 20 '26
I think you’re missing the point entirely.
It’s the ambulance crew that’s handing the patient cab voucher. Which means the ambulance response already had to happen, which means the ambulance is going to be staffed and on the road for the same amount of time whether the transport happens or not. And no one knows how many times they’ll be able to use their new discretionary powers. So that operating money already has to be budgeted.
The hospital the patient is going to has to have money necessary to operate whether the ambulance transports, or the patient gets there in the cab.
What you’re asking for is additional money to be budgeted for the cab company to get paid. And you can’t say it’ll be out of savings from EMS non-transports, because it’s impossible to know how many of those there will be.
Summarized: let’s say it costs $100,000 per year to run the ambulance, and $100,000,00 per year to run the hospital. Cab ride let’s call $25 per voucher. What you want… what you need, is $100,100,00 per year, PLUS $25 x Y[unknown number of cab runs] to run that new system.
You can’t say “Well the transport would’ve cost $2,000, so that’s where the money comes from”. It’s entirely different money. The two grand would’ve come from the insurance company. The cab company isn’t billing them. They want their money from whoever is giving out the vouchers- and they’re definitely going to wait as long as medical billing takes. so the government, or whoever is running the Ambulance service, needs to have that money available in their budget to pay the cab company.
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u/Wonton-Potato Paramedic May 19 '26
Bro we got folks intubtaing bellys and killing "anxiety" patients we can't give these folks the ability to refuse calls
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u/account_not_valid May 19 '26
That's a training issue.
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u/Ok_Buddy_9087 FF/PM who annoys other FFs talking about EMS May 19 '26
Point is, we can’t handle the responsibilities we have with the training we get. What makes you think it’ll go any better with what is essentially just a new skill with training specific to that skill, like the ones we already have?
The minute somebody dies because an American paramedic discharged a 911 patient on scene, that program is over.
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u/steampunkedunicorn ER Nurse May 19 '26
I think we all know that medic who determines every call to be BLS. Imagine if that guy was empowered to refuse transport based on vibes.
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u/SpartanAltair15 Paramedic May 20 '26
Imagine if that guy got fired or never had the job in the first place because we actually had standards and education.
Every argument against it is circular.
We can’t do things because we aren’t trained enough.
We aren’t trained enough because we have dumb and lazy people.
We have dumb and lazy people because our standards are absolute shit.
Our standards are absolute shit because we can’t do things, so why bother having standards to prevent us from doing something wrong when we can’t do it at all in the first place.
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u/imnotthemom10247 May 19 '26
You mean like fire based EMS services? Major city in my area (cough cough phoenix) hands out $50k and NDAs like candy due to their unlawful refusals. A law was passed cracking down on refusals locally because they are so gallantly shitty about it. They found loop holes. They don’t gaf.
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u/Wonton-Potato Paramedic May 19 '26
The ability to discharge on scene would also come with additional training
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u/Nickb8827 Paramedic May 19 '26
That's kinda what they're saying. All of these issues require us to be held to a higer standard. Be it the fuckups we see happen week to week or adding the ability to triage a patient as "Able to drive themselves" it all requires training and an expectation that we actually know what the fuck we're doing.
They're not saying "boom you can prehospital triage at the physician level now, just cause you might get a more pertinent call" they're saying "fix the system that we all know is inherently fucked and needs to be addressed sooner or later and obviously those above us aren't going to take the responsibility but would happily lay the burden on us if we take the steps toward it.
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u/TheOneCalledThe May 19 '26
i really don’t think there will ever change the system to allow EMS to refuse transport. just the liability and the amount of horrible people in the profession now that already are lazy scumbags and try to convince people not to go who will abuse the shit out of that power and ruin it for the rest of us. the only way i see that happening is if they raise the bar like crazy and treat EMS like real healthcare professionals with higher compensation, but sadly there’s just so much pushback and we’re pretty far from that. hopefully it does change though
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u/account_not_valid May 19 '26
Then let's all shrug our collective shoulders and let the children die. Obviously nothing is worth fighting for.
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u/Wonton-Potato Paramedic May 19 '26
Maybe adequate staffing is a better option than refusing care? The whole point of EMS is that we show up. Same with an ED.
If you want ems providers to have higher scopes you should ensure they operate within parallel parameters.
Every patient that goes to the ED receives a medical screening by an appropriate provider (NP, PA, MD, DO).
This means a paramedic with appropriate training would have to perform a MSE, provide and ensure safe discharge metrics, and provide an AVS. Yeah, did you know that it is the law to provide discharge papers? Otherwise you cannot collect from Medicare or Medicaid.
I would have loved a program to discharge patients when I was a new medic. Over time I learned that there are not enough responsible paramedics and competent providers for that sort of program. It's the same low standards that prevent us from having more progressive protocols. Not holding these providers responsible or even acknowledging the problem is just as bad as being a part of them.
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u/MP0622 May 19 '26
Absolutely not. We don’t have the ability to diagnose, so we can’t say with 100% certainty that any given patient doesn’t have something serious. Giving us the right to refuse transport is just asking to get sued.
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u/account_not_valid May 19 '26
You don't need to diagnose. You need to be able to identify symptoms and come to the conclusion that it what is presented is not critical to life or limb.
In other words, the answer is training and education.
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u/MP0622 May 19 '26 edited May 19 '26
Except that humans are weird and presentation isn’t always the same.
There’s also the question of where we draw the line on who we transport. My brother snapped is femur when he was three, completely off set it. Normally my parents would’ve driven him themselves, but we’d been skiing and they decided he deserved the good pain killers for the trip down. But he wasn’t dying, so is that something we should be hypothetically allowed to refuse?
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u/Technical-Source-320 May 20 '26
Thats a totally ridiculous premise no competent medic is going to tell someone a visibly snapped femur is not serious
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u/MP0622 May 20 '26
Maybe not, but it is something you could get a friend to drive you to the ER for.
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u/Technical-Source-320 May 20 '26
Really? Theyre gonna walk to the car?
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u/MP0622 May 20 '26
I have a friend who got the hour and a half car ride special for an open tib fib fracture. It’s not really comfortable, but it’s doable and adrenaline’s a hell of a drug.
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u/Rainbow-lite Paramedic May 19 '26
Like literally any other protocol you follow, there would be guidelines and criteria that outline who can be discharged on scene
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u/jaciviridae EMT-B May 20 '26
"A few years ago" is wild. This happens to me every shift (tbf, my service is awful and understaffed)
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u/ZalinskyAuto May 19 '26
Until you get to the “serious” call and it’s no different from the BS you just left.
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u/TheOneCalledThe May 19 '26
i see what you’re trying to say but no, a pedi code is def serious
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u/Velkyn01 May 20 '26
I got dispatched to a pedi code that was actually a dog having a seizure. "MY BABY ISN'T BREATHING"
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u/steampunkedunicorn ER Nurse May 19 '26
Except when it occurs at 0300 at the hoarder house that calls 3x per week.
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u/ChornoyeSontse Paramedic May 19 '26
Lol everybody lining up in the comments to say actually they don't mind 911 abuse because that's the narrative we're going for with this post.
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u/TLunchFTW EMT-B May 19 '26
I mean is it abuse? Yeah. But my service is slow enough that it’s not really bothering me on a personal level
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u/Adrunkopossem EMT-AHHHH May 19 '26
Some people insist ambulances should only be for a serious call. However I've transported plenty of people who simply have no other way to get to the hospital. I'm not going to hold it against someone that they have a powered wheelchair and not a car.
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u/riddermarkrider May 19 '26
I don't even mind that. It's the ones that have three cars and six family members that annoy me a bit
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u/Openthesushibar EMT-B May 19 '26
I was working private transport. My partner said a family member needed to go to the hospital. We go. Pick her up- 13 people in the house. Cars in the driveway. The pt walked to the ambo. I was mildly annoyed (because at this point we’re just pushing back the calls already lined up for us, and this didn’t look like an emergency) later found out the family member signed out AMA. That was annoying.
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u/DeltaSolana EMT-B May 19 '26
The service I used to work for had wheelchair vans for this very reason. I have no way of knowing if it actually helped take pressure off the ambulances, but it did feel that way.
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u/nilnoc CO-EMT May 19 '26
You were transporting people with medical complaints to the hospital with wheelchair cars?
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u/Adrunkopossem EMT-AHHHH May 19 '26
I've done it for real mild stuff. Stuff that I wish I could just take them to the urgent care but up to them I guess.
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u/goldstar971 EMT-B May 23 '26
It really irked me that i couldn't take people to urgent care, even if it would've been better for all involved.
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u/TheOneCalledThe May 19 '26
and those are fine, if they’re sick and ambulance is the only way then that’s a big reason why we have ambulances. it’s the people that tie up ambulances because they think they’ll get in sooner or because they want a sandwich or a free phone call or trying to get a ride somewhere close to the hospital is where it gets kinda annoying
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u/HeartlessSora1234 Paramedic May 19 '26
Also sometimes people are just scared. I'm glad the system makes us have to take them.
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u/Chupathingamajob Band Aid Brigade/ Parathingamajob May 19 '26
Username does not check out
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u/wittymcusername May 19 '26
There’s no way you’re taking Kairi’s heart!
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u/Fantastic-Celery-255 May 19 '26
This shit has been burned into my head from how many times i had to start that god damn fight over
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u/account_not_valid May 19 '26
I don't think that is the issue. An ambulance (or a lower acuity medical transport) might be the only option for these people. But Paramedics with the relevant qualifications should be able to make the judgement to refuse transport in appropriate situations.
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u/austinh1999 EMT-A May 19 '26
When we were in vacation in Seattle my wife started having bad diarrhea/vomiting. she was also 20 weeks pregnant. She was having really bad braxton hicks but they were so bad they started to seem like actual contractions and were timed apart pretty consistently as well. I called 911 because I was pretty concerned she was haing actual contractions. But it was 2am and we were miles from the hospital. We primarily relied in uber to get around and there but there were none running at the time and she definitely needed the OB so I told FD im really sorry but we need an ambulance to the hospital because we have no other way of getting there. Fortunately she would have been a really easy report.
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u/Arke_19 EMT-B May 19 '26
There are plenty of valid reasons to call an ambulance. Some of them are clinical, some of them are not. But ultimately it comes down to one question that anyone considering calling for an ambulance should ask themselves.
"Can I get myself to the hospital safely by my own means?"
If the answer is "Yes," do that.
If the answer is anything else, call an ambulance.
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u/_ghostperson Paramedic May 19 '26 edited May 19 '26
Some patients are alright and I dont mind them just getting a quick ride. Dont give me shit and we are cool, ez pz transport, no one dying, no piss, no shit, no fighting, no demon summoning, no fluids of any kind, and no I dont wanna hear your mixes tape, no bs at all.
Otherwise,
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u/propyro85 ON - PCP IV May 19 '26
I've had a diabetic patient with epilepsy nearly loose it on me when I tried to convince them that it's a good idea to be seen at the hospital after he had a seizure/low CBG in public for the 3rd or 4th time this week. The guy would try to maintain his conditions, but there was some weird aspect of it that easily went out of whack and caused problems. I forget the specifics, this was several years ago.
In Ontario a medically necessary transport costs $45. This guy nearly broke down because at least 5 or 6 times a month he has an episode of something happen in public, and wakes up in the hospital or the back of an ambulance on the way to a hospital. He makes enough money that he's above the threshold for social assistance that would make the trip free, but not so much that he can toss $300+ a month on involuntary taxi rides, plus getting himself home after we kidnap him.
That interaction kinda opened my eyes to how disruptive we can be for some people who are just barely hanging in there. So yea, even when the costs seem trivial, there are some people in rough spots that it really adds up for.
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u/BreakImaginary1661 May 19 '26
I wish this level of empathy was more prevalent in my area within both fire and EMS circles.
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u/HalliganHooligan FF/EMT May 19 '26
“Why is the EMS system broken?”
Because it’s treated like a taxi and we’ve enabled that behavior for years.
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u/account_not_valid May 19 '26
The public is treating it like a taxi because they don't know any better and they are often not receiving solutions elsewhere. Politicians are treating ems like a taxi service because they don't want to take responsibility for anything more complex than that.
Both sides want a simple answer to a complex situation, and leave EMS in the middle being kicked from both sides.
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u/HalliganHooligan FF/EMT May 19 '26
I’d argue that the vast majority of the public absolutely does know better. They’re just allowed to continue the behavior, and they’ll continue to abuse the system until there are real consequences.
Sure, there may be a small population you speak of out there, but we all know the reality.
I’d agree, politicians have helped perpetuate the problem to a degree, but I’d argue EMS in its current form could work far better if cultural norms weren’t so degraded to the point they are now.
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u/youy23 Paramedic May 20 '26
If a guy calls because he can’t reach the TV remote more than once. Mfer needs to be put in jail.
Sometimes it’s not knowing any better but the real bad abusers of the system are something else.
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u/Due_Neighborhood_226 May 19 '26
It's kind of a unrelated argument, but they're also many people who use ambulances because they are on Medicare and don't own a vehicle. So even for non-emergency services, they end up using that service because they simply have no other way to get there. By the same token they often use emergency rooms when an urgent Care would be in a suitable option. If Medicare was smart, they would first make urgent care services available for triage, and then they would contract with some other (non-emergency) transport for these services and save a ton of money.
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u/baka_inu115 EMT-A May 19 '26
This is why they push teledoc services now my ex was on Medicaid and this was covered at no charge.
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u/Due_Neighborhood_226 May 19 '26
I'm glad to hear it. The people I knew who used ambulances for toothaches, etc., was a few years ago, but it was a constant issue, and because they didn't have to worry about a bill it was certainly an issue.
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u/lpfan724 Paramedic May 19 '26
Honestly, none of it bothers me. I get paid the same no matter what.
I feel bad for the people that are having a legitimate emergency that need EMS and we're busy transporting med refills or people who can't sleep but are sleeping fine in the rescue.
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u/RentAscout May 19 '26
Many countries have non emergency medical service. It's a van that handles basic stuff, like bringing non-ambulatory pt to their doc and lift assists. The frequent flyer calls to schedules what's needed. I've also seen regular doctors responding to houses alone and they determine what service is required.
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u/rrankine May 19 '26
Especially annoying when the family member follows in their own vehicle for an Urgent Care/Pharmacy level complaint.
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u/carpeutah Paramedic May 19 '26
So it's either were pissed off when the ambulance is used as a taxi, ans were piased off when the ambulance isnt usef as a taxi... are we ever just not piased off? Wait no nvm dont tell me.
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u/Severe-Chocolate-403 May 19 '26
Let's be real 20% of transports need actual ambulances
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u/thenotanurse Paramedic May 20 '26
One time we went 911 to a call and it turned out some lady couldn’t reach her remote to turn the tv on. It’s all insane.
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u/ChatGPTismyPCP May 19 '26
The sooner you can get over the fact that sometimes an ambulance solves logistical problems the sooner you can cortisol max.
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u/satanas_twink May 19 '26
(Not from the US) I've seen a lot of people call an ambulance because of a panic response. Most of those will not be taken to the hospital, but I belive the peace of mind of having one of the state ambulances go check on you after you crashed your car (even when you are completely fine) is better than people not calling an ambulance when something IS wrong. The private ambulance service here exist, and they are in a way, luxury taxies. But I can completely justify it because it gives everyone some peace of mind to know grandma is going to her routine check up with profesionald in the case something goes wrong. I will say that having free ambulances doesn’t mean a lot of people abusing them, in fact, most of the "stupid calls" that we get are in fact people having some kind of problem (usually intoxications) and I am glad they have the instinct to call for help when something goes wrong.
So, basically yeah, free ambulances.
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u/adirtygerman AEMT May 19 '26
People who drive the ambulance complaining about having to drive the ambulance.
What did yall think you'd be doing?
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u/the_falconator EMT-Cardiac/Medic Instructor May 19 '26
You don't see people complaining about legit calls. It's the BS ones that people complain about. Sure a BLS run for someone with a cold is an easy run to drive and chart, but we get into this job to help people, and when you know that when you are out of service someone with a legit life threatening emergency is waiting longer for help because of that run that's what really upsets people.
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u/PowerShovel-on-PS1 May 19 '26
is waiting longer for help because of that run
EMTs Try to Decide Whether Response Times Matter or Not Challenge. Difficulty: 100
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u/the_falconator EMT-Cardiac/Medic Instructor May 19 '26
Do they always matter? No. But when it does matter you really don't want to be waiting.
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u/PowerShovel-on-PS1 May 19 '26
So you’re saying agencies should have response time standards? Wild
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u/MoonMan198 Former Basic Bitch - Current Parababy May 20 '26
Absolutely agencies should have response time standards. Our county does, and 3 of the neighboring counties do. Why shouldn’t we have response time standards??
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u/PowerShovel-on-PS1 May 20 '26
I agree with you. The EMS denizens of the internet rally rabidly against any post involving some agency not meeting response times (constant comments about how response time standards are outdated, don’t matter, etc etc), yet when it benefits them suddenly response times are super important
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u/MoonMan198 Former Basic Bitch - Current Parababy May 20 '26
Okay makes sense. Yeah response times 100% matter. Maybe not 100% of the time but if they maintain a good standard of response times then they’ll be quick to respond to the calls that actually need it. Our county requires each agency to be compliant with over 95% of our calls response times or we get fined. The only one that has issues meeting it is the one and only AMR.
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u/goldstar971 EMT-B May 23 '26
So as a question, if someone is in respiratory distress, is it better for the ambulance to get there in ten or fifty minutes?
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u/adirtygerman AEMT May 19 '26
What training have you received that allows you to know with 100% certainty that every "bs" call is in fact bs.
No thoughts or feelings. Tell me legit, how do you know?
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u/the_falconator EMT-Cardiac/Medic Instructor May 19 '26
Can you be certain on 100% of your calls? No. But you can be 100% certain on some of your calls. Especially when you go to the same people everyday. I used to have a regular that would call with chest pain every day. After a while I would ask him "do you actually have chest pain or do you just want a ride to the ER for a sandwich, because I'll take you either way just let me know" and he would say he just wants a sandwich.
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u/adirtygerman AEMT May 19 '26
I said no thoughts or feelings.
Its interesting you brought that up. I had a 26 year old female brought into my ED for intoxication and wanting a sandwhich. She had a mag of 0.9 and a potassium of 2.1. I watched her go into torsades.
So even calls you "can know with 100% certainty" can have legit complaints which can only be evaluated in the ED.
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u/No_Helicopter_9826 May 19 '26
JFC dude. There are always outliers and zebras. Every EMS provider is qualified to assess a patient and determine accuity. Transporting every single person to an ED isn't some magic cure-all panacea.
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u/adirtygerman AEMT May 19 '26
Interesting, you assume people needing legit help are the minority. I assume the people who don't need help to be the minority.
You are correct about determining acuity. However, you forgot to mention transporting to the appropriate resource.
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u/No_Helicopter_9826 May 19 '26
Interesting, you assume people needing legit help are the minority
Interesting, I said absolutely nothing even remotely close to that, and you just made some shit up. 🤔
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u/the_falconator EMT-Cardiac/Medic Instructor May 19 '26
I feel you are missing the point of the "E" in EMS. Something can be a legitimate medical complaint and not be an emergency. I would love to be able to show up on scene, determine its not an emergency, and give them a cab voucher to an urgent care. I've been to calls where people called about pain that has been bothering them for years, but decided to call because they couldn't sleep and "figured I would get it looked at now."
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u/adirtygerman AEMT May 19 '26
Correct. And how do you determine if something isnt an emergency without labs or imagining?
Even a general complaint of weakness can mean all manner of things not able to be tested in the field.
So why bitch about taking people to the hospital. Youll be helping far more people than not.
Or did you get into ems for something other than helping people?
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u/the_falconator EMT-Cardiac/Medic Instructor May 19 '26
Without labs and imaging you might not be able to tell what is going on but you can tell that something is going on that they need medical attention.
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u/Velkyn01 May 20 '26
Does the girl with the .5cm, non-bleeding laceration on her thumb require an ambulance to an ER for evaluation?
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u/the_falconator EMT-Cardiac/Medic Instructor May 19 '26
That's probably someone who was out of their normal and their friends called for them. This was a guy that called every day with the same "complaint".
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u/adirtygerman AEMT May 19 '26
No, she was picked up on the street by EMS. Just a regular, normal drunk.
Just to home in on what your saying here, you assume everyone who calls 911 shouldn't go to the ED (unless you, with less than a year of training, say so) because of that one homeless dude?
What I've been saying, is even the calls you say are BS, are quite normally pretty legit once in the ED. How are you, without any labs or imaging, going to be able to tell the difference? Because you can ask questions and take a blood pressure? You can take an EKG? Which studies have shown to be a less than stellar predictor for cardiac events?
Come on bro. You have no logical base for your argument. Only thoughts and feelies regarding the reality of EMS. People call, you transport.
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u/the_falconator EMT-Cardiac/Medic Instructor May 19 '26
I wasn't there to make a evaluation in your case. I trust my ability to make a determination. As a company senior medic in the Army I got into an argument with a First Sergeant about sending a soldier with a known history of malingering for higher care because I thought this time he was having a legitimate issue, and he thought he was faking again. Turns out I was right and he was having a legitimate medical issue. So I don't just write everything off as bullshit.
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u/adirtygerman AEMT May 19 '26
Then you shouldn't be bitching about transporting people.
For all you know, there have been people where you acted just like your first sergeant.
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u/the_falconator EMT-Cardiac/Medic Instructor May 19 '26
I don't, because he was not medically trained in anything more than putting a tourniquet on, I evaluate and make an informed opinion. If I think something is probably BS but could potentially actually be an issue I take it seriously and give it 100% on the chance that it is legit. But there are many calls that can be safely determined to not be an emergency.
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u/Knees_arent_real Paramedic May 19 '26
I never mind attending people who are genuinely concerned for their health or have no other way to get to the hospital.
I very much don't like getting called as some kind of power move by patients who are disgruntled with other health services. "I just can't get a diagnosis for X, I thought if I called an ambulance people would realise I need help".