Cleveland, OH (September 19, 2023) –
Recognizing an increased demand for EMS services with a 37% increase in EMS responses since 2011, Mayor Bibb and his team recently met with the Cleveland Association of Rescue Employees (CARE) to take decisive steps to recruit and retain experience paramedics including:
- Implementing a Lateral Transfer Program, where paramedics with at least 1 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 5 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.
Mayor Justin Bibb noted “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. 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.”
Union President Mark Barrett remarked that “All the ambulances in the world will just sit parked if you don’t have the paramedics to staff them. The Bibb Administration and EMS Commissioner Orlando Wheeler have realized that there is great value in putting the skillset of experienced EMS providers to work for Clevelanders and we are excited to work collaboratively to continually improve the emergency services we provide.”
President Barrett also said “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.”
Cleveland EMS currently has 28 open positions for EMS providers. Interested paramedics can contact a Public Safety Recruiter by calling 216 623 5233 or by filling out an application online: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/cleveland
