No call no show no thank you: EMS agency cracks down on flaky employees

CHARLOTTE HALL, Md. — EMS job seekers are given specific reasons to not apply for a position in a job posting for paramedics, EMTs and dispatchers.

The Patriot Medical Transport System classified advertisement, posted April 4 to Southern Maryland Online, explains that EMS is an out of the ordinary workplace and 24/7 position.

Applicants who are expecting to sleep at work, lack reliable childcare or transportation, or need a flexible schedule are cautioned about applying.

"All are inspired by things we have been told by employees," said Vic DeMattia, owner of Patriot Medical Transport. "There is a disconnect between applicants saying they are available in an interview and then not being able to do the job. At the start of the job interview I always tell people one of the hardest things about the job is showing up for work."

The full posting reads:

"DON'T APPLY IF:
You do not understand that we work 24/7, you want a 9-5 job, you expect to get off on time every day, you can't make it to work on time, you need a ride to work and expect us to change your schedule, you need your cell phone connected to facebook, you can't talk and work at the same time, you have a flat tire or car accident every week and can't make it to work, you call out sick every week, you take your problems out on other people, another part time job will interfere with employment here, you have not arraigned (sic) for child care, you expect to sleep while on the clock, you think your volunteer work pays your bills, after 2 days of training you know everything, or all other EMS providers are stupid."

This is the first time Patriot has used what DeMattia describes as a "tongue in cheek" ad which also points to serious issues in finding and retaining qualified employees.

"The volume of applicants is less," DeMattia said. "But our current employees are getting more questions about working here which is leading to more referrals."

A shortage of good applicants is driving up the starting salary for EMTs and paramedics in Maryland. "We have lots of competition and a shortage of good people," DeMattia said.

DeMattia described the cost, upwards of $2,000, and time spent on hiring and training a new employee as increasingly difficult. "It is disheartening to spend all that time to end up with performance and moral issues," Demattia said.

For some EMS providers working at Patriot, like other private ambulance services, is the first step in a medical or public safety career. "We hire lots of young medics who use this as a stepping stone," DeMattia said.

Patriot Medical Transport provides interfacility transport and other types of non-emergency and non-911 patient transfers in a three county area of rural Maryland.

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