Your EMS Career Journey

Prior to EMS, I worked for a decade plus in cooperate and various political campaigns - then the pandemic hit. One evening, overlooking my balcony I saw those large refrigeration trucks carrying hundreds of bodies, and I thought to myself, "I have to do something, something to help our City." I enrolled in EMS School the next day, with the intention of doing what I could to help for six months...nearly four years later, I am still here. It's a testament to the power of pushing yourself from your comfort zone, and being able to attain satisfaction from what you do.

Ambulnz has allowed me to learn new skills and acquire unique knowledge (which differs completely from my Academic and work background) and being able to apply it towards ensuring patients receive the utmost care and service has been extremely fulfilling. I also get to collaborate with a great team at Ambulnz and the hospital. Everyday is different, and everyday you get to learn something new. It's wonderful!

EMS is not for everyone. Having the self awareness of your 'Flight or Fight" mode is crucial. It is paramount to assess your own personality and skills to ensure this career aligns with your own interests and abilities. I would encourage anyone to join EMS who has the inclination to serve, is determined to grow professionally, has a strong work ethic, and works well in a fast-paced environment where continuous learning is required to make a difference in the lives of others.

I've always had an interest in EMS at a young age and decided to give it a try. Now that I work in the field, I enjoy the pace and people I work with.

I find most fulfilling teaching new EMTs skills and how the training department works at Ambulnz.

The best advice I can give is never stop learning and always stay humble no matter what position you have.

Initially in high school, I was drawn to being a firefighter. Instead, I fell in love with medicine during my EMT-B class. I strive to keep learning new things to apply to my own practice on the ambulance. To me, medicine is so fascinating, and I love to learn all there is about it. The thing that drew me into working at RBA was its unique position as a family-owned business back when I started. Even if it’s no longer owned by the Ryan family, it still feels like it is a family business at its core.

There are a few things I find fulfilling about my work at RBA. Firstly, there is a heart to RBA. I find immense joy in the camaraderie and kindness of my colleagues. I genuinely enjoy interacting with everyone and am always looking forward to our daily interactions. The positive and welcoming atmosphere at RBA makes working here a pleasure.

Secondly, RBA fills a uniquely special role in medical practice and transportation. I think back to my initial days at RBA. I transported a patient to multiple of their radiation appointments. Every time I saw this patient, I would always have them laughing, and they would tell all of their stories to me. I was there for their first appointment. I was there for their last. I was there for most of them in between. I look back and think about how I personally and positively impacted one of that patient’s hardest moments in their life. Just small acts of being there, a constant face during their treatments, that could impact their life in a positive way. That’s something that always makes me feel fulfilled at RBA.

If you’re considering a career in EMS or at RBA, remember that medicine is more than just a job. It’s a service to our communities. It’s easy for people to think of patients as tasks or objectives to complete, but we must remember that these are all individuals who might be having the worst day of their lives. Sympathy goes a long way in a career in EMS.

EMS was an initial interest due to my time working as a summer camp counselor. I enjoyed working with the Health and Safety team, which led me to get my EMT certification so that I could serve as the camps Health and Safety Director. EMS in general is a great fit for me as each day is a different adventure. The fast-paced environment allows me to be constantly engaged in a variety of different departments and to be constantly working to improve operational workflows.

The most fulfilling aspect of my current role is watching how our new innovations shape and improve the day-to-day operations. Whether it be creating new operational roles, or designing new incentive programs, each choice that our transportation region makes shapes how we can best serve the Health Systems we provide transportation services to.

Anyone looking to pursue an EMS career cannot be afraid to work hard. The work environment is very fast paced and can drastically change throughout the shift. Ambulnz knows this and we have strived to ensure that our leadership team and other field personnel are all willing to jump in and lend a hand when needed. Teamwork is one of the best resources in this industry and to have a successful career in the EMS field you need to be willing to put the work in so that the team can succeed.

I decided to maintain working in the medical field even after my discharge from the Army National Guard. For me, EMS meant more than just treating and taking an ill patient to the hospital. I wanted to see how far I could go.

I see the fruit of the hard work my colleagues and I put in to make the Pennsylvania market the best market. Every day brings new challenges and our team faces them head on. If I can assist the team in any way to move forward, that is fulfilling enough for me. I consider my job a supportive role and my goal is to help others to get where I am and beyond.

During my Combat Medic training in the Army, this always stuck with me. "No matter where you go, just keep this in mind: Doing the right thing, because it is the right thing, is the only reason you need" - CPT Vazquez