Stupid question...

[jl]

...but what level of EMT does the state of CA recognize? EMT-B/EMT-I/Medic? And are there differences between what the EMTs that work in "urban" areas as oppossed to those that are in the "rural" areas (as far as their scope of practice as outlined by the state)?

[LouisianaMedic]

Try this link http://www.emsa.ca.gov/emsdivision/emspersonnel.asp

They recognize all levels but the EMT-B is called EMT I (1) and EMT-I is called EMT - II (2) and then the EMT-Paramedic... There is know difference between scope of practice between urban and rural areas - however different services may have different protcols they follow that are set up by the service medical director... Such as one area may do certian orders by standing protcol where other areas may have to call medical control or medical command for certian orders...

[the1141man]

Try this link http://www.emsa.ca.gov/emsdivision/emspersonnel.asp

They recognize all levels but the EMT-B is called EMT I (1) and EMT-I is called EMT - II (2) and then the EMT-Paramedic... There is know difference between scope of practice between urban and rural areas - however different services may have different protcols they follow that are set up by the service medical director... Such as one area may do certian orders by standing protcol where other areas may have to call medical control or medical command for certian orders...

Actually, you were fine up until "then EMT-Paramedic"...everything after that is pretty much dead wrong.

California has a State EMS Authority, which is what is linked in the quoted post. They are responsible for state-level licensing of EMT-Paramedics, deciding the "Basic Scope of Practice" for EMTs at all levels, and regulating and enforcing EMS services within the state, as well as coordinating disaster medical services, etc.

Each county, or regional conglomerate of counties, also maintains what's called a "Local EMS Agency" (e.g.-Inland Counties Emergency Medical Agency, Central California EMS Agency, Northern California EMSA are conglomerates.... LA, Monterey, and SLO counties, for example, run their own "individual county" EMSAs)--these are responsible for establishing policies, procedures, standing orders, as well as establishing EMS response zones and accepting EMS provider agencies for open or Exclusive Operating Area response zones. They certify EMT-1 and EMT-2 personnel, and do "local accreditation" for EMT-P personnel. They are also responsible for training and certifying MICNs and Base Hospital Physicians for on-line medical control of EMS units.
Basically, if I'm certified as an EMT-1 in LA County, and decide I want to work in Fresno County, I would have to go apply for certification through CenCal EMSA for EMT-1 prior to working in their region. Likewise, an LA County Paramedic moving to Fresno would have to go through a short precepting period to get their "local accreditation" from CenCal EMSA.

EMS provider agencies in California do not have their own standing orders, protocols, or medical direction. Medical direction is provided by the Local EMS Agency's protocols and standing orders, and on-line medical direction from MICNs and BHPs (who're trained and certified by...yep, the LEMSA).

Thanks to the State EMS Authority's allowance of "Local Optional Scopes of Practice", there is a great difference between scopes of practice, protocols, and standing orders throughout the state. In some areas, (Kern County, for example), EMT-1s can use combitubes, whereas many other areas, they cannot. In some areas (Inland Empire, I believe) there are ongoing trial studies where EMT-1s are allowed to initiate venous cannulation as well as adminster certain IV therapies (NS, LR, D5W, D50, Narcan, etc) under standing orders. Other areas, EMT-1s are highly restricted and are basically restricted to O2 and oral glucose.

California currently recognizes NREMT certification for EMT-1(B) and EMT-P providers... the EMT-2 program is undergoing a huge and reallyunnecessary revision, since there are only a couple hundred EMT-2s left in the state, and there wasn't really anything wrong with the old EMT-2 scopes of practice, etc to begin with. But that's a discussion for another thread.
Suffice to say, if you have your NREMT-B or -P, you'll be fine. If you're NREMT-I, expect to be "demoted" to EMT-1(B) status.

[the1141man]

Doublepost...

[the1141man]

Three-of-a-kind...Kings over a pair of Jacks... damn I'm good.

[the1141man]

Two pair--Aces high over Queens.

[the1141man]

....sometimes you just want to punch a forum software designer...

[the1141man]

Fifth "doublepost"--WebTeam, your forum software sucks.

[the1141man]

Septuple post, a new forum record.

[jl]

Thanks for the info.