While major cities rely on full-time, professional EMS departments for their emergency response services, smaller municipalities in less populated areas are more likely to depend on volunteers. Unfortunately for them, there aren't as many signups as there used to be.
Changing demographics, work habits and training requirements are making it more difficult for emergency service departments to find volunteers who are willing to join up and stay for long periods of time. For instance, in Clinton County, New York, department heads say they simply can't find enough people who will put in the 104 hours of mandated training over three months — without being paid.
While some towns are trying to shift to a full-time, paid staffing model, funds are tight. Use of technology like workforce management software can add significant value by helping to maximize existing staffing assignments and using historical data to justify the hiring of additional personnel.
Thanks for watching, and check back soon for more news on how technology can be used to manage EMS staffing.
