Field Observation and Coaching

The best-run EMS organizations — those with high employee engagement and sterling customer care — have great field supervisors. Unfortunately, field supervision is one of the least-recognized areas of the EMS management structure.  It is no secret that field supervisors set the tone for what really goes on in an organization.

Front line supervision has an incredible ability to influence his or her team and impact performance. The organizations adopted standards and expectations must be showcased by the supervisor as the standard of behavior for all employees. This should afford the supervisor the ability to monitor the front line employees in the field and not from behind a desk or assignment to an operations crew (if possible). This will allow them to observe and ensure daily operations are running smoothly while providing primary supervisory support and coaching to staff for field operation deficiencies.  This is essential step towards promotion of the safety culture within the organization.

While it may not always be the standard, during the survey ride along program, the operations supervisor was assigned to a response/transport crew minimalizing the ability for observation and supervisory duties to promote and monitor the safety culture within the organization.  This would include their ability to observe compliance with your organization's well developed company policies such as backing and best practices for patient handling and wheelchair transfers.  An increased proactive supervisory role would likely increase the safety awareness throughout the organization resulting in reduced frequency of damage to company property or injury to employees and/or patients. We believes your organization has reached the size where a field supervisor should be considered for increased field monitoring and coaching of best practices if feasible.