[Adam]

This story came over The Daily Dispatch, a newsletter from the Western Fire Chiefs I get every day. Check out this link http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2009/apr/2...orms-correctly/ regarding EMT's and Paramedics getting pay for filling out reports correctly. Do you get extra money for dotting your I's and crossing the T's in your EMS reports? I don't

What do you think? Also fill out the poll on the webpage.


Adam
Engineer/EMT-I
EMT-National-Training
Fire-Fighter-Exam

[tomemt09]

Interesting idea.

In the business world there are often monetary incentives for above average performance. This means the company WANTS you to earn bonus because it means they made even more. While I like the idea of an incentive in EMS, I am not sure that filling out paperwork means many more dollars for the EMS service. Filling out the paperwork properly does not even mean the business would be safer from lawsuits.

[Adam]

I've let this soak in a couple days and am starting to have a more neutral approach. For a couple of reasons.

When I upload an EMS report it is read by at least 2 people (Ryan could be one of them) read it. If they find something wrong they send it back to be and tell me I screwed something up, such as incident times. After I get back from my 4 days off I fix it and send it back. They get it a couple days later and approve it..........Short of it is that amongst all of us there is much wasted time. This wasted time still results in dollars being paid out.

If there is incentive pay for getting it done right, I might actually spend 10 minutes and proof read it.........But you should already be proof reading it.

I don't know. It's still a BS incentive.

Adam
www.fire-fighter-exam.com

[ScottR]

I think we should get paid extra just for showing up to work on time. And then if we respond in less than 2 minutes we should get another bonus. Hey! I know, let's start getting cash prizes for having the cleanest vehicle.

Okay, so I thought I was already getting paid to do all that!



Scott

[Travis]

Don't forget hand washing Scott. Bonuses should definitely be paid out for that. It could be called "Swine Flu Prevention Pay". As it catches on it could be shortened to SFPP....

Actually, in our volunteer agency the person who fills out the report gets additional "stipend points". This translates into a few extra dollars at the end of the year when it is paid out. We can get 6 people to drive 40 miles in a snow storm at 2am for an MVA....but still have to chase down PCR's. We should pay more.

Travis

[Ryan]

Incentive pay for doing what is expected of me? Not sure it is being taken out of hand. Is it increasing revenue and if so what is the cost vs. Benefit? I am certain progressive discipline is less expensive. Should we now get stipends for putting an airway into a patient or applying direct pressure to a wound? No, because it is what is expected of us.

[firefighter795]

I agree with Ryan. These are things that are expected of us. It's called professionalism and all round good work ethics. Incentive pay should not even be mentioned in public service. The only time your pay should be adjusted is if you deserve a merit/annual raise and a cost of living raise. At my job if you don't proof read your reports, keep your truck in service/clean, and do all duties as expected...you will find your self looking for another job. As a shift supervisor I personally don't have time for slackers and people who come in just to collect a pay check. Do what is expected and you will go far. I know which personnel do their job proficiently and which ones I have to monitor. It's a shame I have to be a baby sitter at times.