Frequently Asked Questions
We at Glacier County EMS enjoy it when people take an interest and ask questions about our profession or department. Here are some of the common questions that we are asked, and our replies to them. If you still have questions you would like answered, please email the chief or call (406)873-2722 and he would be glad to help you.
Q: What is the difference between an EMT and Paramedic?
A: The two biggest differences are the amount of training they undergo to be certified and the skills that they can perform. EMT's typically undergo just over 100 hours of classroom and hands-on training before being allowed to take the National Registry exam. EMT's are trained to perform basic-life-support (BLS) skills such as bleeding control, defibrillation using an AED, rescue breathing, fracture and spinal immobilzation, CPR and other immediate, life-saving measures. Paramedics receive over 1000 hours of training in areas such as pharmacology, cardiology, IV access, medication administration, anatomy/physiology and more. Paramedics have to be EMT's before being allowed to go through paramedic training. Paramedics can perform many advanced-life-support (ALS) skills such as external cardiac pacing, medication administration, endotracheal intubation, intraosseous access, emergency surgical procedures, thoracic decompression and more.
Q: How is a Critical Care Paramedic different from a Paramedic?
A: The critical care paramedic course is an 80-hour program which builds on the basic paramedic curriculum and goes into further detail on topics like advanced pharmacology, cardiology, rapid sequence intubation, 12-lead EKGs, blood administration, critical care transport considerations, flight physiology, advanced airway techniques and more. In our department, any interfacility transport in which the patient is receiving blood, is intubated and paralyzed, or is receiving a medication drip that is not commonly given or maintained by paramedics is taken by a critical care paramedic. We send all our paramedics to the critical care program after one-year of service.
Q: Who do we contact if we have a billing question?
A: We no longer do our billing in-house. All our department billing is performed by Montana Healthcare Consultants in Missoula, MT. Any questions regarding your ambulance bill should be directed to them at 1-888-850-4574. They will be glad to help you with any questions you may have about your bill or our rates. They can be found online at www.mehcc.com.
Q: Do you conduct station tours?
A: Yes, we are always glad to open our station to visitors. We do recommend you call first to make sure we are not out of the station. Call (406)873-2722 or 873-2727 to set up a time.
Q: Is the station staffed 24hrs-a-day?
A: No. Station 1 in Cut Bank is staffed from 0700 to 1900 seven days a week. The paramedics take call from home after 1900. Station 2 in Babb is strictly a paid-on-call station and is not staffed by any scheduled staff. Paramedics are the only ones who staff station 1. Our EMT's and first responders are all paid-on-call and respond from their full-time jobs or from home if a call comes in.
Q: What do you do when not running calls?
A: There are always a lot of things that need done when we are not running calls. Training is an ongoing thing, and being a slower department, is critical to keeping our skills sharp. We also keep active in the community with free blood pressure clinics, school visits and other education and prevention activities. Our training division is always working upcoming or current classes being taught such as first responder, EMT and CPR courses. Our chief always has his administrative duties, and each paramedic has different things they are responsible for. One paramedic functions as our HIPPA compliance officer, training officer, tracks our inventory and puts together supply orders. Another paramedic functions as safety officer, infection control officer, publishes our newsletter, updates our website, and other duties as assigned.
Q: I hear some members call themselves "volunteers", I thought they were paid?
A: They are all paid. The term "volunteer" is used by many people here simply out of habit. All of our staff is compensated, and while they may call themselves volunteers, they are actually paid-on-call.
Q: How do I go about applying to be a paid-on-call member?
A: You first have to be certified as a first responder or EMT. First responder classes are offered by our training division on a regular basis and normally run about 5 days. They are broken up between two-and-a-half weekends. After completing the national exam, you are eligible to work for us. You will interview with the chief, where you will have an opportunity to learn more about us and ask questions. If interested, you may be invited to join the department. We encourage all our first responders to step up the EMT level when the next class comes up. We typically offer first responder and EMT classes free of charge or at a discounted rate if you agree to give one-year of service to the department. To inquire about the next first responder or EMT class, contact the chief or training officer at (406) 873-2722. Information on upcoming classes can also be found on our training division's bulletin board.
Q: Where can you transport patients to?
A: If the call is a 911 emergency, we transport to the nearest medical facility, which around station #1 is Northern Rockies Medical Center. If the call is an interfacility transport, we can go wherever the sending provider wants the patient sent to. We regularly take patients to Kalispell, Shelby, Conrad, Browning, Great Falls, and have gone as far as Calgary (CA), Lethbridge (CA), Missoula, Billings and Havre.
Q: Do you provide an ambulance and EMT's for event standby's?
A: Yes. We are always glad to offer a medical unit and staff for event standby's. To help cover personnel and fuel costs, we sometimes charge a small fee. To inquire, contact Chief Laidlaw at (406)873-2722. While crews sent on standby details are assigned to that event, please keep in mind that providing 911 coverage to our community is top priority. If the call load is high, the crew on the event standby may be called away to respond to calls if all other units are already busy.
Q: I see a "special operations" truck around town, what is it for?
A: Our department pickup, special ops-1, has multiple uses. It is utilized by the first-out paramedics as a take-home vehicle while on-call, carries equipment for special operations deployments, carries gear for mass casualty incidents, and is a basic utility vehicle for the department.
Q: Do you charge the patient if they are not transported?
A: No. Sometimes we are called to a scene and the patient does not wish to be transported. They are not charged for these responses.
Q: Can you force someone to go to the hospital?
A: Normally not. So long as a patient is conscious and able to answer basic questions to prove that they are oriented and not mentally incapacitated or under the influence, they have the right to refuse medical care and transport.
Q: Do you allow ride-alongs?
A: No. Due to the sensitive, confidential nature of dealing with people and their medical problems, we no longer offer a ride-along program to the general public. The only people eligible to ride are certified EMS personnel or current first responder or EMT students.