RFP | Leadership Development & Education Preferred Partner

Written by AAA Staff on February 15, 2023. Posted in AAA HQ, Events.

Preferred Partner Proposal

Leadership Development & Education

Released February 15, 2023 | Responses Due March 17, 2023

Overview

The American Ambulance Association is a national trade association that serves ambulance services of all types and sizes. Our primary membership is comprised of leadership level representatives from organizations, including CEOs, owners, directors and managers.

The American Ambulance Association safeguards the future of mobile healthcare through advocacy, thought leadership, and education. AAA advances sustainable EMS policy, empowering our members to serve their communities with high-quality on-demand healthcare. For more than 40 years, we have proudly represented those who care for people first.

The American Ambulance Association board and its members are committed to providing high-quality healthcare to every patient regardless of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, and/or on the basis of differing ability. We dedicate time, thought, and resources to fostering diversity, equity, inclusion, and mutual respect within the Emergency Medical Services workforce and leadership. Together, we save and sustain the lives of community members.

Preferred Partner Program

The American Ambulance Association is seeking a preferred partner in the leadership development and education space; experience working with EMS systems, agencies, and individuals is required. The preferred partner program is a minimum of two years (ending in December of 2024) with the opportunity to renew for an additional year.

The goals of this Preferred Partner Program are:

Provide AAA members with a vetted, comprehensive, industry focused option for leadership development & education option that addresses the needs of all levels; new supervisor to experienced executives.
Provide a more diverse, fresh perspective in our leadership offerings, including webinars and sessions at our annual conference & trade show.
Enhance our leadership-themed content including website articles and social and blog posts, newsletters, and quick-take videos.

Structure

The American Ambulance Association is prepared to offer its preferred leadership development and education partner the following:

Direct marketing of program and course offerings to the AAA members
Opportunities to share information and promote programs through newsletter articles, blog posts, social posts, and quick take videos
Two 60-minute webinars per calendar year
Influence on a leadership track at our annual conference and tradeshow
Opportunity to develop an executive leadership retreat for the AAA

The American Ambulance Association expects the following from its preferred partners:

Clear communication and timely responses
Creativity, a willingness to learn and grow together
Exceptional customer service for our valued members
Responsiblity for the development of all materials

Financial Incentives

The firm selected will

A Pre-Conference at the AAA Annual Conference and Trade Show – all registration fees collected for the pre-conference will be given to the preferred partner.
All the fees collected from the Leadership Education Webinar series will be given to the preferred partner.
In 2024 -the development of an executive leadership training series with all expenses paid by the parrtner and all fees given to the partner.

Minimum Requirements

Individuals and organizations responding to this opportunity should meet the following minimum requirements:

Offer a comprehensive family of programs that address multiple levels of leadership
Take an active approach to, and offer coaching on, diversity, equity, and inclusion in EMS
Be able to provide references and examples of program success/value
Be widely available, accessible to all AAA members
Seek and maintain Affiliate Membership in the Association for the duration of the partnership
Sponsor and Exhibit at the Annual Conference and Tradeshow for the duration of the partnership
Indemnify the Association against all legal action that may arise out of the partnership
Provide the AAA with a quarterly report detailing utilization/participation by AAA Members
Provide members with a quality service/product at a savings compared to the open market.

Selection Process and Timeline

Interested parties should submit a written proposal that specifically defines the products and services offered to mbianchi@ambulance.org no later than March 17, 2023. The timeline for the process regarding the review of and Proposals to the selection is as follows:

RFP distributed widely to potential organizations and consultants – February 15, 2023
Questions and comments submitted to AAA Executive Committee – February 20-28, 2023
Proposals Due – March 17, 2023
Committee reviews proposals, interviews top two proposals – March 20-29, 2023
Leadership Edcuation Partner selected – March 31, 2023

As a non-profit, vendor-neutral organization, the AAA does not formally endorse any product, service, or company. The AAA may provide statement or support for activities or products on which it has agreed to collaborate. Statements of support may also be provided for non-collaborative products that are of significant public benefit.

Maintaining Compliance Within an EMS Service

Written by Scott McConnell on March 28, 2017. Posted in Leadership & Management, Operations, Professional Standards, Training, Vehicle Standards.

Maintaining compliance within an EMS service can be a daunting task, especially given the number of regulations that we must follow.

One way to look at EMS is if a trucking company married a hospital.

There are rules and regulations to abide by for an entire fleet of vehicles, from safe operation guidelines all the way down to the use and color of lights. Then there are requirements for a group of healthcare providers, which include necessary certifications such as CPR and knowledge of pertinent life-saving skills.

Not only does maintaining compliance keep vehicles and equipment running smoothly, but it can offer employees valuable peace of mind and keep everyone focused on the same goals of providing the best care possible.

I like to consider compliance an investment in common sense.

Employees know what is expected of them at all times, and they know what type of support their employer will provide to keep their skills sharp. In turn, an EMS service gains from being in good standing with regulators and from an engaged, confident workforce.

The benefits of a strong culture of compliance are immense. An organization that lives and breathes compliance can help ensure a smooth-running operation that features top-notch communication and quality providers who offer excellent care.

Journey to Compliance

These six key ways ensure compliance will serve as a roadmap to a strong culture in your organization:

Start from the top: Backing from leadership ensures a strong culture of compliance. For certification and education compliance to stick, it starts with the attitudes of upper management, such as the board of directors, chiefs, officers, and day-to-day operations staff. Leaders must actively support all compliance efforts, including regular compliance-related reports, approving policies and having a general knowledge of the rules that govern EMS providers. Without the right tone from the top, an EMS service’s compliance efforts are usually undermined and ultimately fail. This results in issues with governing bodies, payers, scheduling and staffing.
Commit to resources: Having the right personnel and systems in place are both vital to creating a strong compliance culture. The organization’s compliance staff should have experience in directing compliance efforts and supporting the evaluation of compliance-related risks. When it comes to certifications and education, compliance is always black and white. Knowing how to evaluate and respond to operational issues is important to maintaining compliance and successfully operating an EMS service. Systems that provide information to assist the service in complying with its obligations are a necessity.
Have the write stuff: Developing written policies and procedures for compliance programs and internal controls is essential to adequately address regulatory requirements and an EMS service’s specific risks. Having these policies and procedures in writing sets the expectation of what is required of both managers and employees. Assessing risks before drafting these programs will help identify key areas where controls are needed. A compliance program should include how a service’s policies can be implemented from an operational perspective. This will include internal controls and standard operating procedures.
Provide education: Providing the training for your EMS employees gives them peace of mind that they will be in compliance and acknowledges that the service values them.
Test the system: Subjecting procedures to an independent review and audit ensures the compliance system is working correctly. This review provides an evaluation of where the EMS service’s compliance efforts stand. It also offers an opportunity to correct deficiencies before an outside regulatory audit is performed.
Communicate more: Communication is vital to all organizations, but it can be the most difficult piece of the puzzle to achieve. With compliance-related responsibilities, sharing information is very helpful and, in some cases, required. Communicating expectations within EMS training programs is imperative. Reporting compliance efforts and noting any deficiencies should be a part of a communication strategy, especially if your state has an active medical director and/or board of EMS.

Tag: leadership