Inside EMS

How ESD11 achieved 110% staffing in the era of shortages

This episode of EMS One Stop is sponsored by Blink; the mobile app helping EMS providers to better communicate with their field staff. Learn more about how Blink's two-way communications features are helping to reduce first responder turnover at www.joinblink.com.

In this edition of EMS One-Stop, Rob Lawrence catches up with Harris County ESD11 EMS Chief Executive Doug Hooten. ESD11 is now at day 80 of being a new service provider – get an inside look at their progress.

Doug provides background on ESD11’s fleet of hybrid Ford Ambulances and the challenges of building a full fleet before the go live date, and also comments on his recruiting initiatives, which – even in the current era of shortages – sits at 110% staffed.

Rob and Doug also discuss operation enhancements and initiatives, from offering staff a doggy daycare, to the creation of a Resilience Officer post to look after the wellbeing of all staff.

Is it time for an EMT role expansion?

This episode of Inside EMS is sponsored by Eko. Learn how CORE stethoscope technology helps EMS providers make confident split-second decisions by clicking here.

In this episode of Inside EMS, co-hosts Chris Cebollero and Kelly Grayson discuss a hot topic in the EMS1 community: EMT placement of a supraglottic airway in the field. The conversation touches on the future of EMS, the expanded role of EMTs and how training should adapt. 

Giving the gift of life

This episode of EMS One Stop is sponsored by Blink; the mobile app helping EMS providers to better communicate with their field staff. Learn more about how Blink's two-way communications features are helping to reduce first responder turnover at www.joinblink.com.

In this edition of EMS One-Stop, Rob Lawrence chats with Christine Fiechter, executive director of the 501c3 Charity EMS Gives Life, and live liver doner Will Lindbergh, whose selfless act spurned the creation of the charity.

Cambridge, Massachusetts’ Pro EMS CEO Bill Mergendahl was inspired to launch EMS Gives Life after seeing the personal example set by one of his paramedics, Will Lindberg, who made the life-giving decision to become an anonymous liver donor.

Will was inspired to learn more about liver donation after responding to an emergency call from a patient with liver failure. In February, 2020, Will underwent a laparoscopic procedure to remove a portion of his liver, which helped save the life of 3-year-old Ian Charles, who was suffering from a rare type of liver cancer that can affect babies and young children.

Listen in to learn more about Will’s story, and why EMS Gives Life encourages first responders to give a small piece of themselves to give someone else a new chance at life – and help address the chronic unmet need for life-giving organ donations.

The current challenges of EMS education

This episode of Inside EMS is sponsored by Eko. Learn how CORE stethoscope technology helps EMS providers make confident split-second decisions by clicking here.

In this episode of Inside EMS, co-hosts Chris Cebollero and Kelly Grayson tackle the topic of EMS education. The National Registry of EMTs recently announced it was doing away with skill sheets for EMS providers, setting up an issue for educators to determine the best way to teach the skills. The discussion also touches on teaching tools that hinder rather than help instructors in the classroom. 

 

Matt Zavadsky on the EMS staffing shortage

This episode of Inside EMS is sponsored by Eko. Learn how CORE stethoscope technology helps EMS providers make confident split-second decisions by clicking here.

In this episode, host Chris Cebollero is joined by guest co-host Matt Zavadsky, the chief strategic integration officer for MedStar Mobile Healthcare in Fort Worth, Texas, and the immediate past president of NAEMT. 

Zavadsky breaks down three reasons for the current EMS staffing shortage, and outlines what agencies can do to reserve resources, as well as how to compete with other work opportunities. Zavadsky also touches on the topic of vaccine mandates and the repercussions some responders are facing for not complying. The discussion concludes with a debate about EMS redesign and the importance of partnering with local officials. 

Mental health checkup: Change what you can, forget what you can‘t

This episode of Inside EMS is sponsored by Eko. Learn how CORE stethoscope technology helps EMS providers make confident split-second decisions by clicking here.

In this episode of Inside EMS, co-hosts Chris Cebollero and Kelly Grayson discuss an article by Mike Taigman centered on mental health, "A 5-step wellness checkup," with tips for learning to focus on the things you can change and forgetting the those you can't. 

The conversation turns to the recent fatal shooting by actor Alec Baldwin on the set of his upcoming movie, "Rust." Baldwin was handling a prop gun when multiple shots were fired, injuring the movie's director and killing the film's cinematographer. Our co-hosts discuss what providers need to know about firearm safety. 

Taking a stand: Calling out unacceptable behavior by a colleague on duty

This episode of Inside EMS is sponsored by Eko. Learn how CORE stethoscope technology helps EMS providers make confident split-second decisions by clicking here.

In this episode of Inside EMS, co-hosts Chris Cebollero and Kelly Grayson discuss the top EMS news of the week, starting with Kelly Grayson's most recent EMS1 contribution, "Top 10 apps to make you a better EMT." Our hosts also dicsuss a news story concerning a Dallas paramedic caught on video allegedly assaulting a homeless man. 

The conversation then turns to the topic of vaccine mandates in New York and Maine. The FDNY recently announced all members will be required to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, placing those who refuse on unpaid leave, a policy that has proved effective for EMS agencies in Maine.

Host Kelly Grayson details upcoming surgery, EMS disability process

This episode of Inside EMS is sponsored by Eko. Learn how CORE stethoscope technology helps EMS providers make confident split-second decisions by clicking here.

In this episode of Inside EMS, co-host Kelly Grayson shares a personal story after getting hurt and preparing for an upcoming surgery. He shares his experience working through the disability process, and what others should know about its complexities. The conversation touches on his mental health status, his concern over taking pain medications and the importance of EMS providers in similar situations talking through these emotions. 

Vaccination: The rights of employers and providers

In this edition of EMS One-Stop, Rob Lawrence sits down with EMS attorneys Steve Wirth, of  Page, Wolfberg & Wirth, and Scott Moore. With vaccination mandate deadlines looming, the discussion focuses on current vaccination requirements, accommodations – including the increase in numbers of those with deeply held religious beliefs.

They also examine the right of the employer to require vaccination in return for employment and pay, as well as the free choice of the employee to celebrate their liberty and freedom and move on elsewhere if they feel they can’t comply.

Point, counterpoint: The great vaccine debate

This episode of Inside EMS is sponsored by Eko. Learn how CORE stethoscope technology helps EMS providers make confident split-second decisions by clicking here.

Should healthcare professionals lose their jobs if they refuse a COVID-19 vaccine?

In this episode of Inside EMS, co-hosts Chris Cebollero and Kelly Grayson enter into a lively discussion on the topic of nurses being relieved of duty secondary to refusing a COVID-19 vaccine.