Dear Paramedic Chief Subscriber, In this month's issue of Paramedic Chief eNews, our experts take a look at how EMS leaders can tackle issues of morale and mental health. Rom Duckworth offers seven steps to better agency morale. Michael Ward discusses whether or not EMS providers are being overworked. Ryan Stark takes a look at six ways to prevent drug diversion during the ever-growing opioid overdose epidemic. Lastly, Mike Taigman explains how taking an alternate approach can lead to an agency's improvement. The Fitch/EMS1 Trend Report, which was designed to identify trends and issues of significance in EMS, is looking for a few more agencies to participate in this once-a-year benchmarking survey. Let us know if your agency is willing to be a part of this important effort. Participants receive an expanded version of the trend report with additional insight, charts, analysis and a $50 discount on Pinnacle 2017. — The EMS1 Team

FEATURED ARTICLE

7 steps to better morale in your agency Are phones killing EMS communications and storytelling? Balancing work-performance expectations in EMS agencies MORE EMS1 COLUMNS

HEALTH & WELLNESS Are we working EMS providers to death? By Michael Ward, EMS1 Columnist Excessive work hours, compassion fatigue and violence are contributing to an alarming increase in EMS caregiver suicide. Protecting our own EMS MANAGEMENT Drug diversion legal brief for EMS leaders By Ryan Stark, EMS1 Columnist Here are six strategies to prevent drug diversion, part of the EMS profession's important role in the fight against the opioid overdose epidemic. Secure access

PARAMEDIC CHIEF VIDEOS Identifying and busting the top EMS myths Two physicians discuss a lecture they gave at the National Association of EMS Physicians meeting on top EMS myths. The truth PARAMEDIC CHIEF EXCLUSIVE How to make improvement in EMS automatic thinking By Mike Taigman, EMS1 Columnist Improvement success comes from making the Model for Improvement a normal, regular System 1 part of the EMS organization. What works