Re: Austin/ County EMS to study shiftscheduling

[Guest guest]

I agree with what they are doing, I just don't agree with the cost or the need

to go to an outside firm. The cost of injuries, absenteeism and medical cost

justify the need to do something. Why spend that much money to do a study to

determine what stations need to change schedules? That should easily be done in

house.

AJL

Austin/ County EMS to study shift scheduling

From today's Austin American-Statesman

Wes Ogilvie, MPA, JD, EMT-B

AUSTIN/TRAVIS COUNTY

Some relief for paramedics?

Paramedics' 24-hour shifts are taking a toll on the area's medical

first-responders.

As the call volume for Austin/ County Emergency Medical Services has

increased almost 20 percent in the past eight months, paramedics in some central

Austin stations are taking 18 to 22 calls within a 24-hour shift, so they have

no time to rest, said Gordon Bergh, assistant director of EMS.

The result is a rising rate of injuries, absenteeism and medical costs, Bergh

said. He added that the department has avoided any fatigue-related traffic

accidents or medical errors.

Although the upcoming budget includes money for 24 new paramedics to reduce the

hours paramedics work each week, the additional employees will not change the

length of the workday.

The department is turning to Massachusetts-based Circadian Technologies Inc. to

analyze workers' fatigue and develop schedules that provide 24-hour medical

coverage while addressing the employees' physiological and personal needs.

The City Council will vote on the $162,400 contract today.

" Sometimes you have to ask the experts to come help you, " Bergh said.

The study will look at which stations should be converted to 12-hour shifts,

what kind of risks stem from fatigue and how to minimize the negative impacts of

work schedules.

[Guest guest]

I have many friends who work for ATCEMS, and are acquainted with many more,

and have seen the fatigue that is draining them. When a friend is clearing

the ER at Brackenridge as I am pulling in with a " messy " patient, and then

returns with another patient before I complete decontamination of my truck,

that says a lot for the workload. I have much respect for EVERY Medic who

puts on an ATCEMS uniform and works the call volume that many of their

stations work. I know I couldn't do it anymore, being the old cripple I am

these days (wink). ANYTHING that can be done to relieve the pressure and

oppressive workload is a good thing.

As for the " mega private companies " , that would be a GOOD thing as well.

Barry Everett McClung, EMT-P

[Guest guest]

From over 500 miles away with a briefcase and a laptop?????

>>> alambert@... 08/25/05 10:35 AM >>>

I agree with what they are doing, I just don't agree with the cost or the need

to go to an outside firm. The cost of injuries, absenteeism and medical cost

justify the need to do something. Why spend that much money to do a study to

determine what stations need to change schedules? That should easily be done in

house.

AJL

Austin/ County EMS to study shift scheduling

From today's Austin American-Statesman

Wes Ogilvie, MPA, JD, EMT-B

AUSTIN/TRAVIS COUNTY

Some relief for paramedics?

Paramedics' 24-hour shifts are taking a toll on the area's medical

first-responders.

As the call volume for Austin/ County Emergency Medical Services has

increased almost 20 percent in the past eight months, paramedics in some central

Austin stations are taking 18 to 22 calls within a 24-hour shift, so they have

no time to rest, said Gordon Bergh, assistant director of EMS.

The result is a rising rate of injuries, absenteeism and medical costs, Bergh

said. He added that the department has avoided any fatigue-related traffic

accidents or medical errors.

Although the upcoming budget includes money for 24 new paramedics to reduce the

hours paramedics work each week, the additional employees will not change the

length of the workday.

The department is turning to Massachusetts-based Circadian Technologies Inc. to

analyze workers' fatigue and develop schedules that provide 24-hour medical

coverage while addressing the employees' physiological and personal needs.

The City Council will vote on the $162,400 contract today.

" Sometimes you have to ask the experts to come help you, " Bergh said.

The study will look at which stations should be converted to 12-hour shifts,

what kind of risks stem from fatigue and how to minimize the negative impacts of

work schedules.

[Guest guest]

Because once you do the study, the bean counters hear it from someone other than

you. That way they will feel better about funding it. Everyone knows that the

EMS managers are stupid and cannot be trusted. Simply this may be the only way

they cannot get the right thing accomplished.

Henry

Alan Lambert wrote:

> I agree with what they are doing, I just don't agree with the cost or the need

to go to an outside firm. The cost of injuries, absenteeism and medical cost

justify the need to do something. Why spend that much money to do a study to

determine what stations need to change schedules? That should easily be done in

house.

>

> AJL

>

> Austin/ County EMS to study shift scheduling

>

> >From today's Austin American-Statesman

>

> Wes Ogilvie, MPA, JD, EMT-B

>

> AUSTIN/TRAVIS COUNTY

> Some relief for paramedics?

> Paramedics' 24-hour shifts are taking a toll on the area's medical

first-responders.

> As the call volume for Austin/ County Emergency Medical Services has

increased almost 20 percent in the past eight months, paramedics in some central

Austin stations are taking 18 to 22 calls within a 24-hour shift, so they have

no time to rest, said Gordon Bergh, assistant director of EMS.

> The result is a rising rate of injuries, absenteeism and medical costs, Bergh

said. He added that the department has avoided any fatigue-related traffic

accidents or medical errors.

> Although the upcoming budget includes money for 24 new paramedics to reduce

the hours paramedics work each week, the additional employees will not change

the length of the workday.

> The department is turning to Massachusetts-based Circadian Technologies Inc.

to analyze workers' fatigue and develop schedules that provide 24-hour medical

coverage while addressing the employees' physiological and personal needs.

> The City Council will vote on the $162,400 contract today.

> " Sometimes you have to ask the experts to come help you, " Bergh said.

> The study will look at which stations should be converted to 12-hour shifts,

what kind of risks stem from fatigue and how to minimize the negative impacts of

work schedules.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Whoops!! Simply this may be the only way they can get the right thing

accomplished.

Henry wrote:

> Because once you do the study, the bean counters hear it from someone other

than you. That way they will feel better about funding it. Everyone knows that

the EMS managers are stupid and cannot be trusted. Simply this may be the only

way they cannot get the right thing accomplished.

>

> Henry

>

> Alan Lambert wrote:

>

> > I agree with what they are doing, I just don't agree with the cost or the

need to go to an outside firm. The cost of injuries, absenteeism and medical

cost justify the need to do something. Why spend that much money to do a study

to determine what stations need to change schedules? That should easily be done

in house.

> >

> > AJL

> >

> > Austin/ County EMS to study shift scheduling

> >

> > >From today's Austin American-Statesman

> >

> > Wes Ogilvie, MPA, JD, EMT-B

> >

> > AUSTIN/TRAVIS COUNTY

> > Some relief for paramedics?

> > Paramedics' 24-hour shifts are taking a toll on the area's medical

first-responders.

> > As the call volume for Austin/ County Emergency Medical Services has

increased almost 20 percent in the past eight months, paramedics in some central

Austin stations are taking 18 to 22 calls within a 24-hour shift, so they have

no time to rest, said Gordon Bergh, assistant director of EMS.

> > The result is a rising rate of injuries, absenteeism and medical costs,

Bergh said. He added that the department has avoided any fatigue-related traffic

accidents or medical errors.

> > Although the upcoming budget includes money for 24 new paramedics to reduce

the hours paramedics work each week, the additional employees will not change

the length of the workday.

> > The department is turning to Massachusetts-based Circadian Technologies Inc.

to analyze workers' fatigue and develop schedules that provide 24-hour medical

coverage while addressing the employees' physiological and personal needs.

> > The City Council will vote on the $162,400 contract today.

> > " Sometimes you have to ask the experts to come help you, " Bergh said.

> > The study will look at which stations should be converted to 12-hour shifts,

what kind of risks stem from fatigue and how to minimize the negative impacts of

work schedules.

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

As a former ATCEMS paramedic, the thing that you have to remember, or for those

who have never experienced their unique system, is that they do nothing without

a study first. They are burning people out by the dozens and every alternative

schedule (IE 12 hour) has failed for them. They just can't keep enough people on

the 12 hour trucks. The fact that they are willing to do an outside study is the

best thing that could ever happen for my friends that are left there.

Danny Denson, EMT-P

Former ATCEMS paramedic.

Barry McClung wrote:

I have many friends who work for ATCEMS, and are acquainted with many more,

and have seen the fatigue that is draining them. When a friend is clearing

the ER at Brackenridge as I am pulling in with a " messy " patient, and then

returns with another patient before I complete decontamination of my truck,

that says a lot for the workload. I have much respect for EVERY Medic who

puts on an ATCEMS uniform and works the call volume that many of their

stations work. I know I couldn't do it anymore, being the old cripple I am

these days (wink). ANYTHING that can be done to relieve the pressure and

oppressive workload is a good thing.

As for the " mega private companies " , that would be a GOOD thing as well.

Barry Everett McClung, EMT-P

[Guest guest]

Why is that? I work a 12-hr rotation now and I LOVE it, but that's on

the police side of the fence (my paramedic work is event medicine, PRN

stuff). I run a lot of calls (we're understaffed, who isn't?), but I

love my schedule.

Assuming weeks start on Monday, we work as follows (either 6a-6p, or

6p-6a non-rotating):

Work Mon & Tue, Off Wed & Thu, Work Fri, Sat & Sun

Off Mon & Tue, Work Wed & Thu, Off Fri, Sat & Sun

84 hrs in 2 weeks, and our 7k is set at 86 hrs to cover an hour of OT

each week at straight time.

Every other weekend off as a three day weekend, and I never work more

than three days in a row, and never have less than 2 days in a row

off.

Mike

> As a former ATCEMS paramedic, the thing that you have to remember, or for

those who have never experienced their unique system, is that they do nothing

without a study first. They are burning people out by the dozens and every

alternative schedule (IE 12 hour) has failed for them. They just can't keep

enough people on the 12 hour trucks. The fact that they are willing to do an

outside study is the best thing that could ever happen for my friends that are

left there.

[Guest guest]

Mike,

I remember back to my days of working 12 hour shifts at Medstar (shuddering

while I recall that). I don't think that I ever just worked 12 hours, it was

always like 14+, just the way the system ran. Also depends a lot on what

time of day the shift is *supposed* to end. I worked one that was supposed

to end at 1830. That was a peak time, thus I never got off on time. Burned

me out, too, after a while.

That is why I went to the dark side and became a cop. We work 10 hour

shifts and I love it.....course, I just about always get off at the end of

my shift on time now. Depends on if my guys get all their paperwork turned

in on time or not.

Cpl Moseley, LP

Cleburne PD

>

> Why is that? I work a 12-hr rotation now and I LOVE it, but that's on

> the police side of the fence (my paramedic work is event medicine, PRN

> stuff). I run a lot of calls (we're understaffed, who isn't?), but I

> love my schedule.

>

[Guest guest]

Alan,

I am pretty sure that the point of the study will not just to " determine

what stations need to change schedules " . That was done many times when I was

there in the late 80s and 90s, whe the data analysis being done by The

University of Texas at Austin--LBJ School of Public Affairs. This is simply

too large a system to do this kind of data analysis in house.

The article Wes posted from the Austin American Statesman stated the

purpose was to " analyze workers' fatigue and develop schedules that provide

24-hour medical coverage while addressing the employees' physiological and

personal needs. " If you can do this in house I applaud you, this is well

beyond my expertise.

Nile

J. Nile , EMT-P(LP), PharmD

Pharmacy Specialty Resident, Internal Medicine

The University of Texas at Austin / Brackenridge Hospital

Austin/ County EMS to study shift scheduling

From today's Austin American-Statesman

Wes Ogilvie, MPA, JD, EMT-B

AUSTIN/TRAVIS COUNTY

Some relief for paramedics?

Paramedics' 24-hour shifts are taking a toll on the area's medical

first-responders.

As the call volume for Austin/ County Emergency Medical Services has

increased almost 20 percent in the past eight months, paramedics in some

central Austin stations are taking 18 to 22 calls within a 24-hour shift, so

they have no time to rest, said Gordon Bergh, assistant director of EMS.

The result is a rising rate of injuries, absenteeism and medical costs,

Bergh said. He added that the department has avoided any fatigue-related

traffic accidents or medical errors.

Although the upcoming budget includes money for 24 new paramedics to reduce

the hours paramedics work each week, the additional employees will not

change the length of the workday.

The department is turning to Massachusetts-based Circadian Technologies Inc.

to analyze workers' fatigue and develop schedules that provide 24-hour

medical coverage while addressing the employees' physiological and personal

needs.

The City Council will vote on the $162,400 contract today.

" Sometimes you have to ask the experts to come help you, " Bergh said.

The study will look at which stations should be converted to 12-hour shifts,

what kind of risks stem from fatigue and how to minimize the negative

impacts of work schedules.