P.S. An operator that discourages sick days is the sort of operator that   

To go on short term disability, you have to be out for a minimum of two weeks, which for most EMS pilots is one week of work (plus your week off). In that case, you have to take seven sick days, or if you don't have the sick time accrued, vacation days. To address the OP's issue, at AMC we can accrue up to 10 sick days before it no longer accrues. I take three so I can always have seven left to have the required sick time to go on short term disability without using my vacation. If you stay at 10 sick days, you are kind of screwing someone else out of some OT as well as time off for yourself. Enjoy and do what is best for you.