Currently, over 1,000 EMT AND paramedic positions are available throughout Michigan. Fire departments are not receiving enough applications to keep up with the current need of medical care throughout the state, according to the article, and it’s not looking good for those who need it most. Medical officials note, according to the article, that it’s impacting response times and patient care.
Rochester Hills Fire Department fire service communications professional John Lyman said in the article that he has immediately seen the impact of how the pandemic touched his profession.
“When I was hired in the 80s, we had 300 people apply for a couple of positions,” he said in the article. “Well now, we have many positions open across the county and we are getting trickled in applications.”
President and CEO of Huron Valley Ambulance Ron Slagell said in the article that the EMS system is on the brink of major problems.
“The challenge is unlike other businesses, we can’t just raise our rates to recoup more money to pay our employees,” he said. “Our rates are pretty much fixed by all the payors that provide into the system.”
Read the full story here.
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