In this episode, the team discusses specific ways efficiency can be improved in the field of EMS. Steve explains how his department has utilized a “pit crew” model and is blazing a trail for a “heads-up” approach to cardiac arrest response following incredible outcomes discovered by the Rialto (CA) Fire Department. Dan and Holly talk with Steve through the newly implemented 10-step checklist and how it has the potential to revolutionize cardiac arrest response.

The team segues this conversation to the benefits of checklists on most EMS calls. They discuss how checklists can improve communication, prevent missed steps, and maintain organization on most scenes.

Steve also brings up a common hang-up in EMS: the yard sale. How many times has a vital piece of equipment been lost in the debris of a chaotic call? Most have experienced this, and more than once. Steve and Holly mention some tips and tricks to prevent the classic “yard sale” and maintain equipment organization on scene, which can prevent items from being lost, help with the continuity of the call, and make clean-up after the call much more manageable.

This episode also calls EMS providers to think more critically about the “whys” of our emergency response. Can you move your department forward by being on top of new research and data? Or perhaps be bold enough to add visual aids like checklists and algorithms to our emergency response, overcoming the stigma that an experienced provider shouldn't need help remembering critical steps?

We encourage you to listen to this podcast considering the question, “How can I advocate for change that may improve patient outcomes in my department?”.

Objectives:

• List the benefits of utilizing checklists for all provider levels
• Describe how situational awareness is required for all providers to effectively manage both their patient(s) and the scene
• Identify how crew dynamics and effective communication can have a significant positive impact on the outcome of your call