Commissioner Sounds Alarm On EMS

fdhistorian said:
Chief officers are expected to perform budgetary, personnel management, capital purchasing, political and organizational tasks that are not learned at academies or by occupational experience. Not using a licensed paramedic for patient care is a mis-allocation of relevant talent, training and experience as is promoting people into job functions that they have not been adequately prepared for.
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The Fire Commissioner indicated he was looking for help. I'm trying to be helpful.

The fire service likes to say that all fire chiefs begin their career on the back step.

To my knowledge at least two prior Houston Fire Chiefs spent time as "street" paramedics before getting the Chief's job.
I knew Chief B who was well regarded by the citizens, city council, the members in the fire stations and the news media. While handling all the administrative duties you correctly describe, I believe he would have had no problem leaving his office to run a cardiac arrest resuscitation protocol in some shotgun back bedroom.

After a change in administration, he returned to his previous District Chief slot in northwest Houston to supervise the firefighter/ EMTs, and paramedics in those fire houses.
 
Interesting proposal! Start all firefighters out on a bus or have the bus in rotation with Engine and Truck Companies. Minimizes burnout, people will find their niche and stay put whether it be a bus, engine or truck. For the record Chicago members that work the ambulance don't fight fire (unless that has recently changed). I know some departments that work the Buss 12 hours shifts then swap the members out to engine or truck. What do they do in Houston now Entropychaser?
 
CFDMarshal said:
Interesting proposal! Start all firefighters out on a bus or have the bus in rotation with Engine and Truck Companies. Minimizes burnout, people will find their niche and stay put whether it be a bus, engine or truck. For the record Chicago members that work the ambulance don't fight fire (unless that has recently changed). I know some departments that work the Buss 12 hours shifts then swap the members out to engine or truck. What do they do in Houston now Entropychaser?
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Wilkes-Barre City does something similar. When you are hired on and complete the fire academy (if not done before hire), you are assigned chauffeur on Medic 3 or Medic 5. On a fire call you are considered one of the 13 shift firefighters (unless there are patients) and the rest of the time you are running calls with the bus.
 
Firstly, last night the largest rodeo in the world opened in Houston and tonight is Armed Forces Appreciation Day.

Next, locally its' known as the box or the Ben Taub (the county hospital) taxi.

Since Houston FD EMS premiered in April, 1971 (with 21 units and 126 firefighters), everyone coming out of the academy is an EMT. After more than a half century everybody in a HFD uniform has had the pleasure of being up all night running calls while the truck crew is sawing logs.

As far as I know this all happens under a medical director and assistant chief of EMS Command. EMT/ firefighters work the same shifts as everyone in the firehouse. EMT/ Engineer/Operators drive all the rigs. Ambulance Supervisors and Senior Supervisors are also in the stations. The District Chief gets to inspect your rig. You will dispatched by a fire dispatcher (a firefighter promotion slot). Solo engine response covers some EMS calls.
 
CFDMarshal said:
Interesting proposal! Start all firefighters out on a bus or have the bus in rotation with Engine and Truck Companies. Minimizes burnout, people will find their niche and stay put whether it be a bus, engine or truck. For the record Chicago members that work the ambulance don't fight fire (unless that has recently changed). I know some departments that work the Buss 12 hours shifts then swap the members out to engine or truck. What do they do in Houston now Entropychaser?
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Isn't there seperate academy insturction for CFD Paramedics? Same with LAFD and FDNY?
 
The 911 system is too big and busy....1.6 million calls a year.....Cross training and staffing will not happen due to collective bargaining agreements.....You will see different response policies and alternative response programs and alternative destinations before anything. EMS and FD are and always will be separate jobs and cultures in NYC and the FDNY. To compare other systems to NYC is apples and oranges.....
 
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