CLEVELAND — Citing an increased demand for EMS services, a recruitment effort is underway in the city of Cleveland to hire and retain paramedics.
Details were provided in a joint press release Tuesday morning, saying Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb and his team recently met with the Cleveland Association of Rescue Employees “to take decisive steps” in the recruitment process.
These include:
- Implementing a Lateral Transfer Program, where paramedics with at least one year of experience will be paid $27.59/hr immediately upon hire ($63,116 annually with built-in OT).
- Eliminating the training wage (formerly $16/hr) for experienced paramedics.
- Offering 12 weeks of paid parental leave upon the birth or adoption of a child.
- Offering a top-out hourly rate of $32.24/hr after five years of service ($73,777 annually with built-in OT).
- Offering an excellent benefit package including a full OPERS pension.
- Spending $7.9 million on new equipment including 19 new ambulances with powerloaders, cots, and monitors.
“As part of our commitment to re-imagine public safety, we took a hard look at how we provide EMS within Cleveland and are excited to roll out these innovative recruitment strategies and substantial investments in the latest life-saving equipment,” Mayor Bibb said in the press release. “Our goal is to provide cutting-edge medicine by leveraging technology while at the same time hiring the best EMS providers to provide exceptional service to Clevelanders.”
Cleveland EMS currently has 28 positions open for EMS providers. Those interested in a position can contact a Public Safety Recruiter by calling 216-623-5233 or by filling out an application online HERE.
“To the paramedics out there: If you want to actually be a paramedic, to use your skillset and gain an unparalleled clinical knowledge base, Cleveland EMS is the place to work. We have the benefits, we now have the money, and we are hiring,” Union President Mark Barrett said in the press release.
