Suffolk County EMS Providers' Association

[O' crainaugh]

SCEMSPA? WHAT’S A SCEMSPA?

The Suffolk County Emergency Medical Services Providers’ Association is a new fraternal organization created to give representation to the EMS folk who are actually in the trenches.
Membership is open to field providers of any stripe who render patient care as a member of the EMS system in Suffolk.
Recently, we’ve heard people make pronouncements as the voice of the thousands of us who do the deed every day. Many of these have not been certified in years, if ever, well-meaning as they may be. Often, they do not say what we think, nor do they speak in the best interests of the patient. They do not speak for us. Until now, no one organization has stood to refute their claims or offered alternative thought based on the facts gleaned from life and death in the back of the ambulance.
If we allow this to continue, we have no one to blame but ourselves. The system continues to deteriorate around us. New voices need to be heard, based on the needs of the patient, grounded in science, medicine and fact, not emotion and tradition.
To quote Chief Brunacini, “…if you continue to do what you did, you’ll continue to get what you got”.
Change is coming to the EMS system in Suffolk. If we say nothing, we’ll have nothing to say. If we don’t lend a hand in guiding the future, we most certainly will be swept aside.
You know what your patient needs. You know what you need to do your job. Make your voice count. Don’t let others decide these things for you, in your name, without hearing from you. Come down and have your say.
The next meeting of SCEMSPA will be held July 27, 2005 at 1900, location to be announced.

For further information, contact the author at Ocrainaugh@aol.com
Tom Cronogue

[islipian2]

Hi Tom , when you said in your post " Field providers of any stripe " do you mean paid providers who work for volunteer districts as well. If so Im not inclined to join sorry to sound petty.

Also if you know , what has been the reaction of SCACA.

And will those appointed to the top positions steer clear of the politics as a matter of written code or charter so to speak.

Also are the top folks respected in the entire EMS community and importantly with the policy makers for Suffolk County and New York State EMS Issues,

Thanks .

[O' crainaugh]

Good questions. Let's deal with them one at a time.

First, vollie, carreer, rotorheads, field physicians, some guy working his way thru college by sitting on the boards up at Hecksher or down at RM and pulling out splinters, cops, firefighters...if your mission is to care for patients in the field in Suffolk, you are a stakeholder in the system (or lack thereof...). You have something to say, and this group needs to hear it. One of the complaints that led to the formation of SCEMSPA was that District 7 or SCACA didn't reflect their views. I challenged them as to how many were members of District 7 or SCACA, and/or had attended meetings to make their views known. The answer was a resounding "none". Well, folks, you get out of it what you put into it. I've thrown major fits at Dist 7 meetings over some of the things they've wanted to say. In some cases, I was able to influence the majority, in some cases I wasn't. That's called democracy. I don't consider you petty at all. paid/vollie is a hot button item, and a sore spot for many of us. But consider this. If you don't make your voice heard, you give the various groups, including this one, carte blanche to say what they think, and say it in your name, just like we've already done with SCACA, Dist 7 and the other line organizations.

The Suffolk Co Ambulance Chiefs' Assn...what do they think? I don't particularly care. I know some of 'em just aren't happy. (One of 'em has already been in screaming to the County Executive...) They'll get over it. Some of them have been supportive (I know one Chief...me...). The SCACA maybe needs to do a little reexamination of its role in the universe. It's a CHIEFs' organization. By its very name, it does not represent the rank and file. It rightfully should represent the interests of the bosses. Remember, by its bylaws, it excludes from membership silver shields. That doesn't make them bad...it's a good idea to have an organization that says what the leaders need to have said. By the same token, the members need the same thing. Does the PBA or the IAFF speak for the Sgts, Lt's Capts and chiefs? That's what the SCACA actually is, an association of superior officers. You might be aware of a situation or two in which the goals and objectives of the EMTs' did not exactly dovetail with that of the Chief's office.

Will those (sorry, but I have to correct you here..) ELECTED, not appointed, steer clear of politics? Define politics. Talking with and trying to influence elected officials and the like in the name of the members is the purpose of a group such as this. It's what all the line organizations do, from the smallest village FOP lodge all the way up to the International Teamsters and Greenpeace. If that's what you mean by politics, then the answer is no, they won't. If you mean will they be endorsing candidates and raising funds and the like, I think I can safely say the answer is they'll keep their nose out of that. Hope that answered that. If it didn't, let me know.
Are the top folks respected by the entire EMS community? I think I can safely say no to that one. No matter who you are, somebody thinks you're great, somebody thinks you're an idiot, and most everybody else falls somewhere between those two poles, or the third option, doesn't know you exist. Do I respect them? For the most part, yes. Do you respect every body where you are? Do I agree with everything they say/said? Heck, no. But that's the way of the world. I like to think I'm fairly well respected, but I know there are some people out there who think I'm not smart enough to pump my own gas. That's their business. Maybe they're right. I didn't plan on having children with them anyhow. As to the reaction of policy makers, can't know that yet, because they have no reason to respect, or disrespect the group. It hasn't done anything yet. It won't until you come down and make it do something. I will fight tooth and nail to keep a group of 20 people from saying they represent the interests of 5000 EMS providers in Suffolk. Come down and give me a hand, would ya?
Peace,
Obewan

deleted cause you are too stupid to register!!

[O' Crainaugh]

Vollie supporter,
First, thanks for supporting us. I've been a vollie since the 1960's. It's nice to hear that somebody's got our backs.

What you say represents one of the biggest problems with what's going on in Suffolk Co...this one "heard" this or that. Dave Brenner is a member. If you allow his to be the only voice heard then what you say will become fact. If you come down and have your say, that kinda changes everything,doesn't it? I believe, based on direct observation, that Dave actually has the best interests of the patient at heart. I don't agree with everything he says or how he says it, but we've fought wars going back to the 18th Century to preserve his right to say it, and your right to object. But this isn't about Dave Brenner, or any one individual. It's about the field providers and their patients. Remember, tolerance is a two way street. It means you gotta put up with my crap, too. Instead of "hearing" stuff, come down and participate. Collect the evidence to form your own opinion. Do you like the way things are? Do you see any ways we could improve? If you have thoughts and solutions, wouldn't they be better shared? I don't speak for Dave Brenner, or anybody else. But I can tell you, and I think you'll find a few folk to vouch for the fact that I am not a "...self-serving, ego driven..." advancer of any agenda except trying to do the right thing. I don't shill for anybody. Maybe I'm wrong and you're right. You'll never know from out there tho'. will ya? Come down and make your own decisions. Don't be told what you think by me, or somebody you "hear" things from.
Make sense?
Peace,
Obewan

[islipian2]

Tom ; Thanks for the response , I will definatley consider this.

When and Where do you meet?

[O' Crainaugh]

The meetings are bimonthly, on the odd months, next one scheduled for Wed. July 27, 2005, 1900 in Riverhead at the Suff Co Community College.

BTW, if any instructors happen to be viewing this, SCEMSIA, the Instructors' Ass'n is meeting this Friday, June 3, 2005 @ 1930 @ the SC Fire Academy, Yaphank.
Peace,
Obewan

Hi Tom , when you said in your post " Field providers of any stripe " do you mean paid providers who work for volunteer districts as well. If so Im not inclined to join sorry to sound petty.

Also if you know , what has been the reaction of SCACA.

And will those appointed to the top positions steer clear of the politics as a matter of written code or charter so to speak.

Also are the top folks respected in the entire EMS community and importantly with the policy makers for Suffolk County and New York State EMS Issues,

Thanks .

Don't forget that alot of those "paid" people are also volunteers in other depts.

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