There are absolutely people who don’t need to call the emergency line. Most of the bulk of the calls we get on a daily basis do not need a ambulance to take them to the ER. If you can drive yourself, you don’t need an ambulance. If it’s not an actual emergency that is threatening your life and you can have someone else drive you, you don’t need to call. There are plenty of situations where even taking an Uber would be better for the system. Most paramedics can’t tell a potentially paying patient “no” so they transport the stupidest shit you’ve ever heard of.

This isn’t even counting fall calls where someone shows up to help pick up an elderly or disabled person who simply can’t get themselves back up from their position. Those at least serve the community in some meaningful way.

My "jade" as you call it is well earned and an opinion I am well entitled to. I wanted to make the system better ("We want to hear from you! Tell us what you think") and was ignored. Some due to politics and power struggles between medical directors, chiefs, hospital CEOs etc.... Ironically the very things I spoke of are now starting to be instituted, not because they are more efficient but because of economics. The system simply cannot continue this way anymore. I loved my job up until the day I retired and considered it a privilege to help people. I got angry when I hear a chest pain come up and I was taking you in for an earache at 3am that you were too lazy to call you're doctor about at 3pm. Every medic feels this way eventually, even you, after seeing how horribly run 911 is in this country. Litigation /fear is a big part of it as well. Suffice it to say you don't know me, nor I you, so let's work a shift together and tell me if I'm "jaded". Ad hominem attacks are a sign of a weak argument.