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Languages : en
Pages : 41
Book Description
The problem is the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department does not know why senior paramedics are not seeking the position of EMS Supervisor. The purpose of this research is to identify why senior paramedics do not want to become EMS supervisors. Descriptive research was used to complete this applied research paper (ARP). The research questions are: (a) What aspects of the EMS supervisor position are attractive to senior paramedics?, (b) What aspects of the EMS Supervisor position are not attractive to senior paramedics?, (c) What, if any, perspective difference exists between non-officer paramedics, Lieutenant paramedics, fill-in EMS supervisors, and existing EMS supervisors about the value of the position?, (d) What models of highly competitive fire-based EMS supervisor positions exist in other departments?, (e) What difference exists between the EMS supervisor position description and actual performance of the position?, and (f) Why do senior paramedics say they would not seek the position of EMS supervisor? Through the use of internal surveys of paramedics at all levels of the organization in comparison with departmental position descriptions and job aids characteristics of the position that are both attractive and unattractive were identified. These characteristics were then compared to those of other successful EMS Supervisor positions in other agencies. This research found the contributing factors to why senior paramedics did not want the EMS Supervisors position were as follows: inconsistencies with the division of EMS training, administration, and operations into three separate divisions; over burdensome administrative loads in comparison to peers; perception by field paramedics that the position did not add any additional resource/skill to an incident; and an organizational culture that views the positions with less respect than peers at the same rank. Based on the findings, the recommendations are to integrate the EMS system under one chain of command, increase the administrative support for quality management, improve and expand training for the position, and further research the source of the negative organizational perception of EMS and the EMS Supervisor position.
