Strategies to elevate paramedic safety, wellness, career development and operations
The state of the industry EMS Trend Survey explores issues tied to provider recruitment and retention; safety, health and wellness support; technology adoption; and career development, produced in partnership with Fitch & Associates and the National EMS Management Association.
EMS TREND REPORT
Help us identify the factors impacting wellness, advancement and satisfaction in EMS
ANALYSIS AND COMMENTARY
Fitch & Associates and 草莓影视 break down trends in staffing, operations and career longevity
Transitioning to a healthcare system that embraces and reimburses community-based EMS care
Colorado Springs, Sacramento and Richmond: Integrating analytics into decision-making to enhance patient outcomes, personnel support and sustainable operations
Takeaways from the First CMS Data Collection Report on Ambulance Services to enhance service levels and reduce costs of service delivery
Community collaboration, harm reduction models and policy changes can ease the burden on EMS workers and improve patient outcomes
The EMS Leadership Academy highlights the urgent need to address funding, career pathways and wellness support
An explainer and action plan based on the Consensus Statement of NAEMSP, IAFF and IACP
What CoAEMSP has learned about EMS student attrition and retention
Wellness programs and sleep interventions can ease burnout and improve job satisfaction
Adapting to growth and changing demands with innovative community partnerships
Carly Strong, COO, SEMSA/Riggs Ambulance: 鈥淭ake every opportunity鈥�
Practice self-care and do the work on the front end so you have more to give on the back end
Highlighting a joint statement from EMS associations, Chief Brian Schaeffer argues for a shift towards broader, evidence-based performance metrics to enhance EMS quality and effectiveness
When employees are happy, engaged and productive, and the organization is meeting their individual needs, they are more likely to meet their full potential
Insufficient sleep impacts decision-making, wellness and risk-taking, putting providers and patients at risk
鈥淢ost likely, you know at least one caregiver who is struggling, but you鈥檙e reluctant to act鈥�
Identify and aid team members facing depression, burnout or compassion fatigue to foster an emotionally safe organizational environment
Prioritize your wellbeing to pave the way for sustained healthy living
Taking the concept of the right care, to the right person at the right resource to a new level
Engaging payers, the medical director, administrators and field providers was key to MedStar鈥檚 successful telehealth implementation
RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION
From coffee, to healthy snacks and hydration options, make sure your EMS crews have everything they need to recharge between shifts with cost-saving subscription options
When the overtime pool is deep, many EMTs and paramedics will swim for as long as they possibly can
No one wants to join a sinking ship
鈥淵ou can鈥檛 oversee EMS medicine from behind a desk.鈥� With a full-time medical director, providers gain a mentor, coach and advocate.
When leadership turnover is persistent, is this a personnel issue or a deeper systemic problem?
Understanding the Employee Value Proposition is the key to attracting, engaging and retaining good people for your EMS organization
If we want to keep up, it鈥檚 time we change gears and evolve from a traditional recruitment strategy
Upcoming changes to TPS and DACA programs could impact EMS professionals across the U.S.
Through a partnership with the Girl Scouts of America, Camp Fury is igniting a passion for public safety and emergency services among young girls
Stay interviews help employees feel valued, respected and supported, improving their engagement and motivation
Early career exposure can make or break future career choices; here鈥檚 how one agency is fostering school-age children鈥檚 interest in an emergency services career
Paramedic chiefs and EMS leaders need to set shift length based on call demand, available personnel, equipment supply and time on task
Six different career ladders with compensation and rank based on experience, higher education and specialized training improves retention
Avoid these mistakes to onboard EMTs who will thrive in EMS, and give their all to your agency
EMS Chief Peggy Fonseca was fired due to budget overages and personally responding to calls
There is no substitute for high-context communications and training that occurs between two people, engaging privately, face-to-face
Is building a new kind of clinician merely a Herculean task or a fully Sisyphean one?
3 steps to stop staffing problem solving and start reinventing your agency
Creating a mindset to achieve diverse, equitable and inclusive hiring practices
Industry leaders weigh in on celebrating EMS Week amidst the forces shaping the EMS landscape
HEALTH AND WELLNESS
NOLA EMS Chief Bill Salmeron shares the inside story of how his team handled one of the most intense incidents in recent New Orleans history
Be realistic when estimating future expenses and check your progress early and often to balance your budget
A month after his son initiated CPR for his first SCA, Wayne Kewitsch suffered a second medical emergency while driving
Tough shifts demand tough feet 鈥� fix the pain now or it鈥檒l take you out later
Try one (or all) of these ideas and make movement a priority 鈥� together!
Mental health in EMS isn鈥檛 just about bad calls 鈥� it鈥檚 about culture, leadership and access to care
A career in public safety or emergency response can take a toll on your loved ones; here鈥檚 what you need to know
It鈥檚 true; games help cultivate and maintain the relationships that make up your all-important support system
Be prepared for Super Bowl-related emergencies, from avocado mishaps to cardiac arrest
Your partner at home can be your best resource in regard to your mental health
Our picks for public safety readers for inspiration, health, healing, leadership and escape
The primary goal of mental wellness check-ins is to provide public safety employees with increased quality of life as well as tools to manage their response to stress and trauma
Hear Chief Bill Salmeron鈥檚 firsthand account of managing the MCI, from inter-agency collaboration to the long-term psychological toll on first responders
Back injuries happen all too frequently in EMS, endangering ourselves, our partners and our patients; learn how to prevent them
Recruitment, the opioid epidemic, climate change and mental health challenges are just as significant for paramedics now as they were in the heat of the campaign
Your options will vary depending on your agency鈥檚 benefits package and your state鈥檚 policies regarding injured workers, but you can prepare now
Is the 75 Hard health and fitness challenge to boost mental discipline and physical fitness right for you?
Putting together a simple budget is not difficult. Here are some tips
Whether you鈥檙e starting from scratch or looking to enhance your existing routine, these free tools can help you stay fit and ready for the demands of your job
LEADERSHIP
Lee County EMS Division Chief Adam Thompson shares insights on Just Culture and the importance of investing in people to create a thriving workforce
With call volumes up 55%, Walla Walla shifts to local funding to add EMTs and paramedics
From jumping in the field to empowering crews in decision-making, Chief Nicholas Oleck fosters accountability and camaraderie in his department
Vague definitions and enforcement challenges raise concerns about how a new law will function in real-world emergencies, leaving providers to navigate gray areas under pressure
Know the newest fire- and EMS-related laws
Opportunities for OSHA鈥檚 proposed Emergency Response Standard to improve EMS safety
Alan Cowen, fire deputy chief (ret.) Los Angeles City Fire Department, reflects on leadership lessons
From avoiding critical errors to fostering trust, discover 5 actionable strategies to master active listening to deliver better care
Discover practical strategies for public safety leaders to stay grounded, manage stress and inspire their teams during life鈥檚 toughest challenges
Here are books for grant writers looking to hone their craft
Assistant Chief Joel Koehn on servant leadership, empowering his team and focusing on organizational culture
Colorado鈥檚 community naloxone distribution program faces a financial shortfall as state funding dwindles, raising concerns for overdose prevention efforts
These are challenging times to be a first responder; your support is welcome and appreciated
Communicating with law enforcement and following these clinical guidelines will help to keep patient safety first and foremost
It is time for an honest conversation about response times, reimbursement and funding solutions for the future of EMS
Navigating the shift in financial responsibility and the impact rural EMS practices and policies
It鈥檚 a two-way street; HR professionals should do more to understand the industry and fire/EMS leaders should better explain the needs of members
Ambulance services cannot afford to feed the billing department incomplete, inaccurate or misrepresented information
Retired firefighters, EMS and police officers may reduce their taxable earnings by up to $3,000 for medical insurance premiums paid during a calendar year
Laurie Thiel shares strategies for addressing unproductive meetings and boosting productivity in EMS workplaces
It鈥檚 hard to sit back and watch when so much work needs to be done, but your team needs stability, not more chaos
Chapter 4 of this comprehensive desk reference about EMS in the U.S. untangles the origin and history of the EMS Star of Life
Offering educational options versus punitive responses can make all the difference
Division Chief David Munoz on guiding members in the same direction with clarity and meaningful purpose
ABOUT THE SPONSOR: PULSARA
The Pulsara platform empowers responders to triage and track patients while managing any incident 鈥� from mass casualty incidents to hurricane evacuations, MVAs with multiple patients or special events 鈥� and assist in evacuation and reunification efforts as the incident unfolds. Pulsara鈥檚 powerful scanning technology allows responders to instantly scan patient wristbands to create or join existing patient channels, making continuity of care and interoperability between organizations seamless. No matter who you need to connect with in a crisis, Pulsara can help connect you to the right resources at the right time.
How a state鈥檚 wristband system and Pulsara redefined safety at the Texas Renaissance Festival
Assistance is available from the U.S. government, but local systems have important responsibilities
Pioneering patient management and communication tools may be the answer to enhancing provider job satisfaction and combating EMS retention problems
Once you鈥檝e determined what it will do, you face some more practical questions
It鈥檚 not as hard to get started as you might think 鈥� follow these initial steps