WHAT MAKES AN EMS PROVIDER A TAXI DRIVER/AMBULANCE DRIVER, THE TYPE OF CALLS YOU RUN OR YOUR ABILITY TO PROVIDE PATIENT CARE????

I have been seeing alot of discussions about EMS being referred to as "ambulance drivers" and noticed that some are getting pretty upset at the idea that they are not viewed as a skilled provider. I started thinking what makes an emt or paramedic a taxi driver/ambulance driver. I would love to know what people think the difference is between a skilled provider and a taxi driver and what kind of things have you done lately to keep from falling into that category??

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Paula Miller on October 22, 2012 at 10:14am

Ever notice some write "seen and examined" and others just write "seen?" You know what I'm talking about, Doc. LOL...

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by iDriveTheTaxi on October 28, 2012 at 8:58pm

Responding to the above Obamacare comment. While the argument is made that this may increase the abuse of the 911 system, it could well decrease the abuse. If people have choices and know that these choices will be covered, the they may very well choose correctly. Some of the overuse of 911 that we are currently experiencing comes from the ability of patients being able to receive care from a source other than the ER. Some will choose to do he right thing and seek care from their primary physician rather than waiting hours to be seen in the ER.

I'm Florida and we're currently seeing a decrease in drug seekers due to the change in law regarding prescribing narcotics. Our local hospital system has also taken the stance and made it known that patients with chronic pain complaints will be treated with NSAIDs, Tylenol or other non-narcotic medications and patients will need to seek assistance from pain management or their primary care physicians. They are slowly getting the idea with our pharmacy registrations that there is no more doctor shopping.