Last month, 318 providers of Emergency Medical Services for the New York City Fire Department were “promoted” to be Firefighters.
This is about 7 percent of the current FDNY EMS workforce and includes 40 Paramedics. No one can fault this group for wanting to pursue a noble profession and seeking greater financial security (this group is now eligible for 29 percent to 60 percent higher pay over the next few years compared to a career in EMS). But why is changing roles from EMS to firefighting a “promotion?” Isn’t being an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) or a Paramedic just as noble? And what effect does this disparity in how we value these two different types of public service have on the care provided to patients in our city?
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