What year did you complete your EMT training with Allied?

2019

What was your first job in the EMS field?

My first job was an emergency department technician in Fridley, MN.

How do you think your EMT training prepared you for your current role?

I worked in the emergency department for a about 3 years before and during the pandemic. During this time, I learned a lot about treating critically ill patients with limited resources. I learned how to anticipate the needs of the providers and nurses I worked with. Additionally, I learned about how the healthcare system operates and what high quality patient care looks like. I later moved into a role at a cardiology clinic at the University of Minnesota Clinics & Surgery Center. In this position, I learned about how a clinic operates versus an ED. Overtime, I found my current role as the supervisor of our complex scheduling and rooming staff teams in the cardiology clinic.

How can our students best prepare for the hiring process/job interviews in the EMS field?

Networking is my biggest recommendation. Find events, talk to people in the industry and do not be afraid to let people know what you are looking for. Find ways to get experience through volunteering if possible. There are plenty of 5K/10K running events that would love to have another EMT in their medical tent.

What does quality training look like to you?

Quality training is a thorough understanding of the fundamentals of your training as well as exposure to the main purpose of the field. At the end of the day the goal is to do what is best for the patient. This can end up looking a lot of different ways depending on what the patient allows you and your team to do. A patient may not want to go to the hospital or they may not want the advised treatment. Sticking to those fundamental principles of your training allows you to prioritize what parts of a patient’s care matters the most.