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JEMS | Adapting to Survive EMS Workplace Shortages, Part I

Written by AAA Staff on . Posted in Human Resources.

From the Journal of Emergency Medical Services on February 1, 2024

Why are females and individuals who identify as Black, indigenous and/or People of Color underrepresented in EMS?

EMS providers and leaders across all levels of care reported staffing to be one of the top challenges facing the industry. A recent study reported over 86% of providers experienced recruitment and retention challenges in the past three years.1

Fitch (2023) reported that many EMS providers have lowered educational requirements, lowered the minimum age, and eliminated certification before hiring (i.e., paid time for training) to overcome workforce shortages. Despite these efforts, maintaining an adequate workforce in EMS organizations and agencies across the country is a growing concern.

Providers continue to evaluate and adjust recruitment strategies to maintain their critical role in the public health and safety system in the United States; however, little is known about the efforts to recruit from underrepresented populations.

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Enhancing EMS Safety: Outcomes of the Lights and Siren Collaborative

Written by AAA Staff on . Posted in Employee Wellness, Operations, Patient Care, Quality.

January 17, 2024 – Irving, TX We didn’t need emergency warning devices to get where we were going – a motor vehicle crash without serious injuries. We tried to change lanes and were hit from behind, sideswiped, and pushed across the road. We expected people to yield to us, but the bright flashing lights and sirens contributed to distracting the driver of the car as he was trying to get around us. I still to this day believe we wouldn’t have gotten crashed if we were driving without the use of the emergency warning devices.

The reality is when lights and sirens are on, the risk of crash increases by over 50%.  Weekly, we hear  reports of ambulance crashes that impact providers, patients, and the public.

The National EMS Quality Alliance has released Improving Safety in EMS: Reducing the Use of Lights and Siren, a change package with the results, lessons learned, and change strategies developed during the 15-month long Lights and Siren Collaborative.  It will assist EMS organization in making incremental improvements to use of lights and siren on a local and systematic basis. “The best practices that have emerged from this project will allow every agency, regardless of service model or size, to more safely and effectively respond to 9-1-1 calls.” says Michael Redlener, the President of the NEMSQA Board of Directors.

“By utilizing less lights and sirens during EMS response and transport, our efforts have shown measurable increases in safety. The EMS community and the general public will surely benefit from the now-proven tactics provided by this partnership,” added Mike Taigman, Improvement Guide with FirstWatch and faculty leading the collaborative.

More about the Collaborative and participating agencies can be found in the change package and on the NEMSQA website.

About the National EMS Quality Alliance

The National EMS Quality Alliance (NEMSQA) is the nation’s leader in the development and endorsement of evidence-based quality measures for EMS.  Formed in 2019, NEMSQA is an independent non-profit organization comprised of stakeholders from national EMS organizations, federal agencies, EMS system leaders and providers, EMS quality improvement and data experts as well as those who support prehospital care with the goal to improve EMS systems of care, patient outcomes, provider safety and well-being on a national level.

 

NEMSQA
Sheree Murphy
smurphy@nemsqa.org
315-396-4725

CISA | Preventing Workplace Violence Infographic

Written by AAA Staff on . Posted in Human Resources.

Preventing Workplace Violence: Security Awareness Considerations Infographic

Publish Date
RELATED TOPICS:
PHYSICAL SECURITY, INSIDER THREAT MITIGATION, NON-CONFRONTATIONAL TECHNIQUES

The Preventing Workplace Violence: Security Awareness Considerations Infographic is a new CISA product designed for critical infrastructure leaders, human resources personnel, managers, and workers of any level. The infographic provides actionable recommendations and resources intended to prevent and mitigate workplace violence by cultivating a culture of awareness and support in the workplace.

For questions regarding this infographic, please email central@cisa.gov.

Resource Materials

Preventing Workplace Violence: Security Awareness Considerations Infographic(PDF, 1.09 MB )

Tags

Audience
Federal Government, Industry, Small and Medium Businesses, State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial Government, Executives
Topics
Physical Security, Insider Threat Mitigation, Non-Confrontational Techniques

Gluesenkamp Perez and Finstad Introduce EMS Workforce Shortage Bill

Written by Tristan North on . Posted in Government Affairs, Legislative, News, Recruitment & Retention, Workforce Shortage.

Yesterday, November 15, Congresswoman Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA) and Congressman Brad Finstad (R-MN) introduced the Preserve Access to Rapid Ambulance Emergency Medical Treatment (PARA-EMT) Act (H.R. 6433). H.R. 6433 is the first broad, stand-alone piece of legislation specifically designed to focus solely on helping address the EMS workforce shortage.

“We greatly appreciate the leadership of Congresswoman Gluesenkamp Perez and Congressman Finstad on introducing this momentous legislation to assist with the hiring and retention of paramedics and EMTs,” stated AAA President Randy Strozyk. “We look forward to working with them on passage of the bill.”

H.R. 6433 would establish a pilot grant program under the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for the recruitment and training of paramedics and EMTs. The grant program would be authorized from 2024 through 2028 with $50 million a year in funding.

The legislation would also provide states with funding to help facilitate and expedite the transition of medics coming out of military service with the requirements of becoming a civilian paramedic or EMT. The program would be authorized from 2024 through 2028 with $20 million a year in grant funding for states.

Lastly, H.R. 6433 would direct the Secretary of Labor to conduct a study on the EMS workforce shortage and issue a report to Congress. The report would include an analysis on potentially adding paramedics and EMTs to the list of health care occupations which benefit from an easier hiring process of professionals outside the U.S.

The American Ambulance Association, National Rural Health Association and Washington Ambulance Association have endorsed H.R. 6433. In the coming days, the AAA will be launching a Call to Action to encourage and assist our members in contacting their U.S. Representatives in support of cosponsoring H.R. 6433.

Thank you to all of the AAA members and volunteer leaders who worked tirelessly to push for the introduction of this important EMS legislation!

NHTSA’s Office of EMS Contributes to New Study Analyzing Suicide Among EMS and 911

Written by AAA Staff on . Posted in Employee Wellness.

EMS News

NHTSA’s Office of EMS Contributes to New Study Analyzing Suicide Among EMS and 911
National Violent Death Reporting System data indicates that first responders made up 1% of all suicides from 2015-2017. As part of NHTSA’s Office of EMS’ (OEMS) ongoing efforts to support the mental health of first responders, the Office participated in a new study characterizing suicides among first responders and identifying potential opportunities for additional data collection. OEMS Specialist Kate Elkins, MPH, CPH, NRP, CHES, co-authored the study drawing on her experience at OEMS and the National 911 Program, as well as her background in emergency medical services, disaster response, public health and injury prevention.

Published in The Journal of Safety Research, “An analysis of suicides among first responders ─ Findings from the National Violent Death Reporting System, 2015–2017,” examines the factors contributing to higher suicide rates among first responders, including EMS clinicians. Risk factors and selected sociodemographics and characteristics were compared.

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The study provides a small glimpse into the stressors contributing to suicide and indicates that more detailed research could inform suicide prevention efforts and interventions among the first responder workforce.

If you or someone you know needs support now, call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. 988 connects you with a trained crisis counselor who can help.

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