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
ANALYSIS AND COMMENTARY
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: “Take every opportunity’
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
“Most likely, you know at least one caregiver who is struggling, but you’re reluctant to act”
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
Achieve peak performance through foam-rolling, active warm-ups, deadlifts, functional dumbbell exercises, and high-intensity interval training
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’s successful telehealth implementation
“There is no substitute for experience. Yet, regardless of experience level, it is important to consider how EMS education can teach situational awareness”
The whole-system approach to protecting your personnel from violence
How a hybrid paid/volunteer emergency service model can provide the best care
RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION
Stay interviews help employees feel valued, respected and supported, improving their engagement and motivation
Fitch & Associates and EMS1 break down trends in staffing, operations and career longevity
Early career exposure can make or break future career choices; here’s how one agency is fostering school-age children’s 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
Agencies and government officials must evaluate performance expectations and funding to determine appropriate EMS delivery models
Dispelling generational myths and clarifying the root of workforce personnel differences
The EMS industry research has spoken: tradition and old cultural norms and beliefs don’t apply to the evolution of EMS today
A national survey reveals EMS economic and operations redesigns that would have been considered heresy just years ago
A state grant will fully fund training for 10 licensed paramedics for Rapid Response EMS
EMS leaders gather on our Congressional leaders’ turf to advocate for EMS
While the concept has been around for decades, it’s the buzzy term that’s prompted the recent focus on this approach to work
As an employer, the pressure is on to captivate the workforce and stand out in a competitive job market
HEALTH AND WELLNESS
Pinnacle speaker explained how to use the ancient art of storytelling to impact EMS provider identity, resilience and excellence
From ride-alongs to station visits, true leadership in public safety means meeting your people where they are. Trust isn’t built behind a desk — it’s earned on the ground
Community paramedicine demands a mindset shift — from crisis mode to continuity of care. Learn how EMS providers can build trust, treat root causes and redefine what success looks like.
When employees are happy, engaged and productive, and the organization is meeting their individual needs, they are more likely to meet their full potential
Firearms instructor Todd Fletcher went from a competitive power lifter to a retiree managing pre-diabetes and high blood pressure, showing the impact of shift work on wellness
From smartwatches to hydration, here are four mission-ready picks to help you build strength, regulate stress and stay fit for the job — and for life
Score discounted duty gear, workout tools and everyday essentials July 8-11 with our curated list of budget-friendly buys
Discover how the Johari Window helps leaders uncover blind spots, show vulnerability and foster real connection with their crews
A paramedic’s sudden death prompts urgent questions about operational norms and caregiver health
A practical guide to interpreting urine color for maintaining optimal hydration
Steve Grau’s powerful wakeup call urging EMS leaders to prioritize mindset, breathwork and emotional clarity over management checklists
At the AAA Conference, Dr. Long delivered more than a keynote — she issued a survival plan for first responders facing burnout
A new congressional bill aims to classify cross-trained EMS personnel federally, but will it be enough?
A Forbes Top Futurist with skin in the game calls for EMS to re-examine how it recruits, relates and retains its people in an era of relentless change
Even if you can’t travel out of town for a vacation, you can still make the most of your time off; here are some tips to help responders enjoy a staycation right at home
By following actionable steps before, during and after a vacation, first responders can embrace the therapeutic power of detachment and fortify their resilience
Share your wish list with your community via social channels; you may be surprised at the generosity of your fellow citizens!
Learn how rehab sectors can identify and treat hyperthermia, ensuring paramedic/firefighter safety during high-temperature incidents
Text-message study links early-morning fatigue spikes, call volume and naps to crew alertness
While often present in public safety culture, gallows humor is a double-edged tool — providing momentary relief but carrying emotional risks if left unchecked
LEADERSHIP
State EMS Director Joe Schmider on how Texas’ data-driven plan brought in 10,915 new providers
A unified effort among EMS agencies, hospitals and aviation units ensures faster, lifesaving treatment
Lee County EMS Division Chief Adam Thompson shares insights on Just Culture and the importance of investing in people to create a thriving workforce
Transitioning to a healthcare system that embraces and reimburses community-based EMS care
“You can’t oversee EMS medicine from behind a desk.” With a full-time medical director, providers gain a mentor, coach and advocate.
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’s 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’s 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
If we want to keep up, it’s 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.
Colorado’s 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’s 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
ABOUT THE SPONSOR: PULSARA
Pulsara is the healthcare communications and logistics platform enabling EMS professionals to communicate with each other and the hospital during patient events and incidents. EMS teams can use mobile and browser-based devices to instantly alert downstream members of the care team with vital patient information before arrival at the hospital. The steps are simple: Create a patient channel; build your team; and communicate using live audio/video calls, secure messaging, images and more. From individual patient events to mass casualty incidents, Pulsara’s fast and flexible platform allows you to triage, track patient movement, and manage emergency response at any scale. Learn more: www.pulsara.com
How a state’s 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’ve determined what it will do, you face some more practical questions
It’s not as hard to get started as you might think – follow these initial steps