Talking the Talk

Sometimes I torment myself by opening brochures for EMS conferences I can’t afford to attend. When I did that in May, I spotted the name of a colleague—we’ll call him Chauncey—who is very active in his county’s 9-1-1 system. Chauncey isn’t just a caregiver; he’s also an exceptional educator and polished speaker. One thing Chauncey isn’t, however, is a paramedic, which is why I was surprised to see EMT-P after his name in that catalog.

Chauncey is a respected healthcare provider even when practicing at his AEMT level. He’s held many leadership positions. Why, then, would Chauncey embellish his credentials? Paramedic licensure isn’t a prerequisite for the convention he’s attending; the brochure lists several EMTs on the faculty. Besides, this isn’t the first time Chauncey has fibbed about his qualifications.

Would the EMT-P suffix earn Chauncey a bigger stipend? Not usually. Compensation for speaking at EMS conferences rarely varies by certification level. Besides, Chauncey is a very successful businessman outside of EMS. I doubt money is the issue.

Chauncey has experience and smarts. I don’t think he’d have any more trouble than the rest of us getting through medic school. The question is, does Chauncey believe that, or does he see the medic curriculum as an obstacle? Maybe he’s even more reluctant than I was to re-enter an academic environment after many years in the corporate world. There’s nothing wrong with a little uncertainty about new challenges, but you won’t get far in EMS with persistent fear of failure.

Perhaps Chauncey considers paramedic school a poor use of his time. I’ve met a few AEMTs who feel their street experience alone accords them the competencies of paramedics (and more than a few medics who use the same rationale when they compare themselves to physicians). It’s hard to explain the particulars of a knowledge base to someone who lacks that knowledge base.

Chauncey’s false claim isn’t just harmless hyperbole. “If it causes or exacerbates illness or injury, (Chauncey) could face criminal or civil charges,” warns attorney Gary Rubenstein of Schulman, LeRoy & Bennett, a Nashville law firm.

“In many instances, intentional misrepresentations result in enhanced damages to punish the wrongdoer, in addition to compensating the injured party,” Rubenstein adds. “The employer could be considered liable too.”

Chauncey isn’t the only EMS provider with fabricated credentials. Our industry is still smarting from certification scandals in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Washington, DC. Closer to home, there was an AEMT I worked with who often walked the halls of our hospital with Medic stenciled on the back of his duty shirt. He claimed medic is a generic term for rescuer. Perhaps some patients think that way. Most of them don’t need real paramedics. Rescue—the act of reducing danger—is often simpler than what comes next: assessment, diagnosis and treatment. I doubt Chauncey or any “generic medic” fully understands that.

Sometimes uniforms are unintentionally misleading. Opryland’s white button-down dress shirts say only Medical Services. Add a stethoscope, and you get called “Doc” a lot. I suppose that’s better than “Sleepy” or “Grumpy,” but I still try to insert “I’m not a doctor” into dialogues with patients.

Misrepresentation isn’t unique to EMS. According to the 2000 census, four out of five Americans who claimed to be “in country” during the Vietnam war weren’t. Tim Johnson, manager of baseball’s Toronto Blue Jays in 1998, is one of the better-known imposters. He was fired after he admitted he’d lied to several players about serving in Vietnam. Johnson said he felt guilty about not seeing combat as a marine 30 years earlier.

My friend Paul is an AEMT and a decorated Vietnam veteran. He’s proud of both. He’s not sure what motivates so many people to fabricate verifiable aspects of their background. “I’m no expert,” Paul says. “Maybe they have some kind of emotional or mental problem.”

I’m with Paul. I don’t know why Chauncey says he’s something he isn’t, but his affectation troubles me. By pretending to be a paramedic, he disparages everyone who’s earned that standing. He’s also risking his career and the welfare of patients who might be better helped by legitimate medics.

One of the strengths of EMS is that our customers believe us. None of us is entitled to shortcuts that betray that trust. Let’s be proud of what we’ve achieved, and respectful of those who’ve gone a step further.

Mike Rubin, BS, NREMT-P, is a paramedic in Nashville, TN, and a member of EMS World’s editorial advisory board. Contact him at mgr22@prodigy.net.