Careers in EMS

IN FACE OF GROWING COVID CRISIS, STATE-WIDE CAMPAIGN IS LAUNCHED TO RECRUIT EMTs AND PARAMEDICS

BOSTON (December 14, 2020) – As Massachusetts continues to face a surge of COVID-19 cases that threaten to inundate the state’s healthcare system, EMS leaders are launching a recruitment campaign in hopes of adding new EMTs, paramedics, and 911 communications professionals.

The campaign, “Courage on Call,” is sponsored by the Massachusetts Ambulance Association and features EMS professionals sharing the stories of what drew them to the profession. The social media-driven campaign is focused on connecting students and young emerging professionals to the growing mobile healthcare field. On the campaign site, courageoncall.org, visitors hear directly from today’s frontline heroes and find career training sites across the state.  

In an economy and labor market hurt by the pandemic, EMS remains a thriving field with many career opportunities for current and future EMTs and Paramedics. Employment of emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics is projected to grow 6 percent from 2019 to 2029, faster than the average for all occupations, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.  

There is a chronic shortage of EMTs and paramedics in Massachusetts, amplified by the unprecedented demands of the COVID-19 crisis on EMS professionals and their colleagues across the state’s healthcare community. In a critical first response role grown even more essential in the pandemic, EMS professionals have helped manage testing and treatment for homebound patients and have provided supplemental support for hospitals and neighborhood health centers, in addition to its duties in responding to daily emergencies. 

“Every day, our state’s EMS professionals rise to the moment when they respond to help the sick and injured,” said Massachusetts Ambulance Association president Dennis Cataldo. “We have among the best EMS personnel anywhere in the country and want to bring more into the ranks.They personify the life-saving skills, empathy and courage that had been so necessary before this crisis, in the midst of it and when it’s all done. 

“Paramedics and EMTs provide skilled healthcare to their communities 24/7,” said Brian Andrews of County Ambulance. “We encourage our neighbors to visit  courageoncall.org to learn more about how they can build a rewarding career in EMS.”

About the Massachusetts Ambulance Association 

The Massachusetts Ambulance Association represents private ambulance services throughout the Commonwealth. Our association members employ more than 6,000 employees and operate 80% of all licensed ambulances within the Commonwealth. Together, we provide the highest quality pre-hospital care to Massachusetts residents. Collectively, we advocate for fair reimbursement and thoughtful regulation to ensure continued mobile health care excellence. www.massambulance.org