Pennsylvania EMT Gives up License After Claiming to be Paramedic

A Monroeville man has surrendered his emergency medical technician certification for doing the job of a paramedic without a license, a licensing agency spokesman said.

Joshua W. Whiteman, 21, is the first or among the first in the state to be asked to give up his certification, state Health Department spokesman Richard McGarvey said.

Whiteman worked as a paramedic for Alle-Kiski Pulsar, which is part of pre-hospital services for Allegheny Valley Hospital in Harrison, and for ambulance companies in New Kensington and Lower Burrell in Westmoreland County.

McGarvey said a review of Whiteman's cases revealed no problems regarding the medical condition of patients he treated.

A state document made available last week includes Whiteman's signature and the signature of his attorney agreeing to give up EMT certification.

"He also agreed not to work in the emergency medical field in Pennsylvania forever," McGarvey said. "We also notified surrounding states."

The agreement said Whiteman had been certified as an EMT Since May 14, 2004, but told employers and medical supervisors that he was a paramedic, and he had a copy of his EMT certification card "that was altered to appear as a paramedic certification card."

He also showed a "fabricated letter purporting to be from the (Health) Department congratulating him for completing the requirements for paramedic certification," according to the agreement.

Whiteman could not be reached for comment.

Last month, McGarvey confirmed that the department had received a report that an unnamed EMT was giving IV medicine and providing other paramedic-level care.

Paramedics are permitted to provide more sophisticated care under the direction of a doctor because they complete additional training in a hospital, classroom and the field and pass state certifying tests.

Alle-Kiski Medical Center spokesman Phil Grove said Allegheny Valley Hospital officials received a letter from the state about Whiteman.

Whiteman was employed roughly from April through July. At some point the medical center staff "discovered some irregularity in his work certification and notified the state Health Department and area ambulances services," Grove said.

The hospital employs seven full-time and three part-time people to run Alle-Kiski Pulsar.