EMS Leadership

Comment

Comment by CA Gingrich on December 6, 2009 at 12:02pm

It is all about the Legacy each one of us wants to leave when our days are through. What do you want to be remembered for? How fast you can drive an ambulance or how your purpose-driven life inspired the best in the people you touched throughout your personal and professional life? Will they say, " I'm glad he/she is finally gone." or " I sure wish he/she was still here." We get to chose our legacy. This is the challenge of leadership to promote this attitude throughout your organization.

Comment by Vic & Vern Traumanowski on May 14, 2009 at 6:29am

Vic & Vern Traumanowski here - looking forward to leading and running every red light we can find!

Comment by Larry J. Appel on January 1, 2009 at 1:27pm

Mike could not have stated it better! Great lessons to live our personal and professional life by. I am sending it to everyone EMS professional I know! Nice to be a part of this group.

Comment by Mike Belcher on December 28, 2008 at 10:57pm

As a shift past shift leader and EMS Director I learned to keep my mouth shut more often and listen. So as we ring in the New Year create a new set of resolutions. I'm not talking about getting back in shape, eating healthy, stop smoking ect. I'm talking about resolutions you can live by as an EMS leader.

1. I will improve my listening skills. I will remind myself that I can't learn anything when I'm doing all the talking.

2. You only get one chance to make a good impression, and yours is in the hands of the person who answers the phone.

3. He or she who burns his or her bridges better be a damn good swimmer.

4. No one ever chocked to death swallowing his or her pride.

5.I have never received my first note from someone telling me I am giving them too much praise and recognition.

6. There may be a thousand ways to get to the top. Always deliver more than expected. This will keep you there.

7. Be committed to growing and improving every facet of your EMS service. Be constantly on the lookout for good people to become part of your team.

8. Constantly search out materials that will introduce you to new ideas and new ways of thinking.

And remember there are no easy gigs. The minute you shift into neutral when going uphill you start rolling backwards. (MB)

Comment by Ray Alt on December 15, 2008 at 10:47am

Mr. Post,

I agree with you. Gone are the days of Emergency!, Code Red, and Rescue 911. People don't want to know we're there until we're needed. A show will highlight our field again

Comment by Gary Wiemokly on December 4, 2008 at 8:45pm

Hey Christie good to meet you. Good points that need some work for sure...I think there are a couple ways to look at "new stuff." As a Leader it may be tough to make sure the new stuff is value oriented, with tighter & tighter budgets and the cost of medical equipment, one really has to weigh the benefit to the patient, the crew, and the system. And certainly if there isn't any "buy in" from the medical director or the crews your dead in the water. So I think if the organization or system (often times) has a street up to the leader push many times it's the leader AND medical director that has to "push back" and see what the value is with regard to the "new stuff" even changes in patient care protocols. It is a challange to create an environment where excitment for new ideas and treatments can thrive and accomplish the application of the same, especially in a fire based system. There is always something new to learn on the fire side of things and (I know from experience) often times that gets the nod even though 75-80% of the care may be EMS related. Clearly a challange! Yeah I think a lot of folks in many profession wait until the 11th hour and hit "panic mode" for their CMEs. I just did 2 lectures last night to a packed house of CME hungry & "just-in-time" paramedics....I must admit sometimes I one of 'em too! Happy Holidays....Gary

Comment by Christie Groover on December 3, 2008 at 8:01pm

Hello there... I'm Christie, Chester County, PA. In the spirit of answering your question Gary, as an EMT Instructor, I believe in putting out the great EMT, not just putting an EMT on the street. I think the biggest issues we face is of course the decline in volunteerism. Of course it doesn't help that the politics of ANY volunteer organization, especially the fire/EMS services is enough to make a preacher slit his own throat. lol We're currently looking at trying to put a trauma center in our county. The closest one by ground is a good 45 mins so we do fly a lot of PTs. I'm not one that agrees with flying just so you don't have to ground, but we also have a lot of either incompetent or lazy EMTs/Medics in this area. Some of the biggest things I've noticed is lack of keeping up with the new "stuff" out there for EMS/Fire. Constant education is a must but very few EMT's these days keep it up. They wait till that last month when they need those 24 CEU's and come to one of my weekend refreshers.

Comment by Gary Wiemokly on December 3, 2008 at 7:07pm

Hey folks how is everyone doing? I'll start???? May be I'm Gary from New England via SoCal & Colorado. Where are the rest of you from & what do you see as the top three issues for EMS Leaders in your area. In N.E. [as in most (I assume) of the country] quality EMS Care providers are a precious resource and seems as if the supply is dwindling? Our Volunteer services are really hurting, and the commercials always are always looking for folks, even the municipal & fire based services seem to have gaps to fill in their schedules. Then the issue of funding, and lastly I see the "next generation" of EMS Leaders where are they coming from and will they be better prepared than the current leaders?