Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service’s request for body-worn cameras (BWCs) was approved by the Birmingham City Council. Though they are not the first department to equip paramedics with BWCs, it’s an important step forward in accelerating the adoption of this longstanding law enforcement technology in EMS.
The city’s $173,067 three-year lease agreement with Axon will equip 30EMS supervisors and fire inspectors with BWCs. The department expects the footage to be primarily used for training and to support investigations.
Slow BWC adoption
Adoption of BWCs in EMS has been surprisingly slow, likely for two reasons:
- Concerns about protected health information and patient privacy
- The upfront cost of the equipment, as well as the ongoing costs of video review and data storage
Services that have adopted BWCs, including New Orleans EMS, have already navigated the implementation of BWCs, while also protecting patient confidentiality. In addition, the “EMS body-worn camera Quickstart Guide: Legal Considerations for EMS agencies” has been available for several years and answers common questions, such as:
- Does HIPAA permit body-worn cameras?
- What are the best practices for invasion of privacy issues?
- What are the minimum requirements for a body-worn camera policy?
| MORE: An inside look at the New Orleans EMS body-worn camera program
Yes, BWCs are not inexpensive. Birmingham is spending $1,900 per year, per camera, which includes software and support. But other expensive technologies, like whole blood administration, ultrasound and mechanical CPR, have gone mainstream much faster than BWCs, even though those technologies might be useful on less than 5% of patient calls.
A BWC, on the other hand, can be used on any call for quality assurance, future training and violence deterrence. Funding a BWC program purchase through budget allocation, grant funding or fundraising can improve patient care and workplace safety.
We know that paramedics and EMTs are held at gunpoint, stabbed, kicked, punched, bitten and spit at. We also know that bystanders threaten and deliver violence. A BWC may deter those attacks and if not, at least the video is a record of an attack to bring to law enforcement and local prosecutors, increasing the likelihood that charges are filed against the assailant.
Having a record from the EMS providers’ point of view during a contact with a disgruntled one-time or high-utilization patient could more quickly resolve a complaint or accusation of wrongdoing. A complaint might fizzle quickly if you can offer, “Let’s look at the video together.”
Medical care, workers’ compensation, wages for additional staff and investigations are also costly. When considering BWCs, make sure to consider potential savings your organization might realize from better patient care and safer working conditions for EMTs and paramedics.
We know from law enforcement that BWCs de-escalate, lead to criminal charges and investigations, and provide invaluable material for training. EMTs and paramedics deserve the same.
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