1
Jurassic EMS
MEDIC Solutions
ObjectivesObjectivesTalk about ways to help the new generation understand,appreciate and learn from the wisdom and experience of the“Old Guard”- instead of dismissing them.Discuss the critical importance of achieving “buy-in.” Contrastthe “good old days” of EMS with today’s rapidly changinghealthcare landscape and list the benefits of change.Consider the potential effect that a new generation of providerswith clinical skills and knowledge, but who are lackingexperience and leadership will have on the standard of careprovided and the future of the volunteer system.Find ways to help long term “dinosaur” providers achieve acomfort level with technology and clinical change and becomementors for the next generation.
Jurassic EMS
MEDIC Solutions
Jurassic EMS
MEDIC Solutions
2
Jurassic EMS
MEDIC Solutions
A quick look through ForbesMagazine, or The Harvard BusinessReview will reveal that corporateAmerica is desperately seeking toretain older employees because itrecognizes the brain drain that canhappen when experienced peopleleave faster than new ones canreplace them.
Jurassic EMS
MEDIC Solutions
“Knowledge Capital”“Knowledge Capital”Long-term members/dinosaurs arethe carriers of “knowledge capital”-stored knowledge.Understand “how things workhere.”Embodiment of the companyculture.When they leave withouttransferring that knowledge, thereis a void created that may never beovercome.
Jurassic EMS
MEDIC Solutions
Knowledge CapitalKnowledge CapitalAn invaluable asset.Needs to be recognized andrespected.Current body of knowledgerepresents a valuable toolbox.New ideas, procedures need tobe presented as new tools to addto the toolbox, as opposed tojust throwing the old toolboxout.
3
Jurassic EMS
MEDIC Solutions
Managing a Multi-GenerationalWorkforce
Managing a Multi-GenerationalWorkforce
Requires:Respect, commitment, patience, understanding anda sense of humor.
Considerations:Most EMS people take themselves entirely tooseriously.The EMS community is notorious for finding aproblem for every solution.Critical for long term success.
Jurassic EMS
MEDIC Solutions
Jurassic EMS
MEDIC Solutions
4
Jurassic EMS
MEDIC Solutions
The Next Generation- Millennials.The Next Generation- Millennials.Many articles and seminarstalk about ways to engage andrecruit millennials.As smart and tech savvy asthey are, they still needmentoring.We need to learn how tobridge that generation gap.
Jurassic EMS
MEDIC Solutions
Millennials: 1981-2000Millennials: 1981-2000
Age 16-35Younger brains:
Engage and remember information presented at lightspeed in a rich multi media format.Not distracted by multi-faceted communication.Seek out multi-sensory communication and likeinteractive sites
Jurassic EMS
MEDIC Solutions
Millennials: “Generation Y”Millennials: “Generation Y”Attributes:
OptimisticIndependentConfidentSocialMoralCivic-minded
5
Jurassic EMS
MEDIC Solutions
Generation Y“The Internet Generation”
Generation Y“The Internet Generation”
Attributes:HopefulDeterminedLike to participate
Do: Assign mentors, provide feedback, allow multi-tasking:Don’t: Treat them like children, or forget to explainwhy.Likes: To ask questions, latest technology, publicactivismDislikes: Negativity, boredom, anything slow
Jurassic EMS
MEDIC Solutions
We have the smartest, best educated , mostglobally aware and technologically advancedEMTs entering the field.They are bursting with confidence andenthusiasm, with newly-minted cards attesting totheir knowledge.They have no idea how to apply it.Most know nothing about the “business” of EMS.Who is going to teach them how to functionoutside of the classroom?Who should be teaching them?
The Millennial EMTThe Millennial EMT
Jurassic EMS
MEDIC Solutions
Age 36-51Attributes:
Self-reliantInformalPragmaticSkepticalGlobal thinkerTechnologically literate
Generation X: 1965 - 1980Generation X: 1965 - 1980
6
Jurassic EMS
MEDIC Solutions
Generation X“The Latchkey Generation”
Generation X“The Latchkey Generation”
Attributes:IndependentSkepticalSuspicious of authority
Do: Allow to multitask, give feedback when asked,groom for management.Don’t: Micromanage, talk too much, call them lazy orslackers.Likes: Work/life balance, multitasking, autonomy, up-to-date technology.Dislikes: Red tape, “hype,” too much collaboration.
Jurassic EMS
MEDIC Solutions
Age 52-70Attributes:
Optimism, team-orientedPersonal gratificationHealth and wellnessPersonal growthBeing involved
Baby Boomers: 1946 - 1965Baby Boomers: 1946 - 1965
Jurassic EMS
MEDIC Solutions
The Generation X EMTThe Generation X EMTNot necessarily warm and fuzzy- likes toget to the point
Willing to not only concede to andrespect different ideas when properlypresented, but will embrace them.
May be a “low information voter” bychance (busy), not by choice or willfulignorance.
Likes to work independently-does notneed much public affirmation. Selfconfident.
Believes that the next generation needsto ‘pay their dues”
7
Jurassic EMS
MEDIC Solutions
The Baby BoomersThe Baby BoomersDifferent brains come withagingAging brains:
Like repetition, interpretfamiliar ideas andinformation as truth.Have a hard timesuppressing distractions.Are open to moreinformation.Have longer attention spans.
Jurassic EMS
MEDIC Solutions
No such thing as bad student, only bad teacher.
Teacher say, student do.
Jurassic EMS
MEDIC Solutions
Baby Boomers“The ‘Me’ Generation”
Baby Boomers“The ‘Me’ Generation”
Attributes:OptimisticCollegial styleSocial reformers
Do: Value their experience, give them credit, perks,bonuses.Don’t: Disrespect them or ignore their contribution.Don’t tell them, ask them.Like: Responsibility, competitiveness, “can do”attitude, serious work ethic.Dislike: Laziness, lack of business etiquette.
8
Jurassic EMS
MEDIC Solutions
Jurassic EMS
MEDIC Solutions
Boomers…Boomers…… require a unique a learningenvironment dedicated tothe unique needs of older,and often skeptical, adults.
Jurassic EMS
MEDIC Solutions
9
Jurassic EMS
MEDIC Solutions
According to The Harvard Business Review, 70% of allorganizational change efforts fail. One reason for this isexecutives simply don’t get enough buy-in, from enoughpeople, for their initiatives.
Jurassic EMS
MEDIC Solutions
Examples of EMS Failure toCreate Buy-In
Examples of EMS Failure toCreate Buy-In
Education: “Classes are too long, too muchcontinuing education.”Data collection: Almost impossible to collectcurrent and relevant information from financeto patient outcomes.Marketing: Someone else is writing most of theheadlines. And most are not good news.Clinical changes and best practice.
Jurassic EMS
MEDIC Solutions
How can you take advantageof Bob’s wisdom andexperience and get him to“buy in” to the rapid changesin modern EMS practice?
When you talk, what does hehear?
The Dinosaur..The Dinosaur..
10
Jurassic EMS
MEDIC Solutions
Critical Thinking?Critical Thinking?“Why do we need moreeducation? Pathophysiology?The human body hasn’tchanged… has it?”“What is there to ‘think’about?”“Our job is to get the patient todefinitive care, not fiddle fartaround and ‘diagnose’.”“Street smarts are moreimportant than book smartsanyway.”
Jurassic EMS
MEDIC Solutions
Oxygen Therapy?Oxygen Therapy?“I’ve been giving oxygen toalmost every patient sincemy EMT class 20 yearsago.”
“They act like itspoisonous gas now.”
“I know I have beenhelping people, not hurtingthem for all these years.”
Jurassic EMS
MEDIC Solutions
Cardiac Arrest: Stay on Scene?Cardiac Arrest: Stay on Scene?“Everyone knows the bestplace for a cardiac arrestpatient is the ER.”“It’s Obamacare. Just letpeople die.”“They change CPR all the timeto sell books, and rip offclasses. I’m gonna stick withwhat I know, it will changeback.”“WTH do we tell the family?”
11
Jurassic EMS
MEDIC Solutions
Spinal Immobilization?Spinal Immobilization?“Still teaching it for NationalRegistry, and they make therules.”“I’ve actually been hurtingpeople? Says who?”“The ER docs have told memany times I did a great job.”“I kept people from beingparalyzed.”“I’m not getting sued becausesome egghead who has neverseen a wreck wrote a paper.”
Jurassic EMS
MEDIC Solutions
Technology: the Internet?Technology: the Internet?“All this crap is just for billing.It’s all about money now, notpatient care.”“What do all these questions doto help my patient?”“I didn’t sign up to spend half mytime typing stuff no one readsanyway.”“I don’t care what you read on theinternet. It’s not in the book, so itdoesn’t matter.”
Jurassic EMS
MEDIC Solutions
12
Jurassic EMS
MEDIC Solutions
“Everything I learned, practiced and did for mypatients was wrong?”
“ I’m not buying it. You can’t take my ‘saves’away”
Jurassic EMS
MEDIC Solutions
Jurassic EMS
MEDIC Solutions
Change is Now a ConstantChange is Now a ConstantFor centuries, economists , philosophers, anthropologists andsociety as a whole have known that historically, attempts topredict the future by extrapolating from the past (‘history repeatsitself’ could be expected to be fairly accurate.Until recently. This recent past was referred to as “The Age ofContinuity”.In 1969, Peter Drucker coined the phrase: “ The Age ofDiscontinuation” to describe the way change now forcesdisruptions in the continuity of our life.He identified technology, globalization, cultural pluralism, andknowledge capital as the basis of this change.
We can no longer assume that trends fromthe past, or even today, will continue in the future.
13
Jurassic EMS
MEDIC Solutions
So, What to Do About Bob?So, What to Do About Bob?Bob needs a good S.W.O.T!!Talk to him about his:
StrengthsWeaknessesOpportunitiesThreats (perceived)
Jurassic EMS
MEDIC Solutions
Jurassic EMS
MEDIC Solutions
Making It WorkMaking It Work
14
Jurassic EMS
MEDIC Solutions
Making It WorkMaking It WorkRequires commitment.Meet frequently, at least monthly.Most meetings should be fun, informal and focuson hands-on team building, and communicationskills.Break up cliques.Assign mentors based on skills, not seniority.Encourage all members to seek out and share newand interesting information on EMS issues.Have educators from outside the agency presentclinical and protocol changes
Jurassic EMS
MEDIC Solutions
Dinosaurs to ChameleonsDinosaurs to ChameleonsBoomers and Generation Y havevery similar values and attributes.To change, they can switch roles:
Millennials tutor technologyBoomers share ‘soft skills’
Gen X needs to lighten up andovercome negativity.
They are the key to facilitating ateam effort and bridging thegeneration gap.
15
Jurassic EMS
MEDIC Solutions
Jurassic EMS
MEDIC Solutions
Retaining experienced providers, and attracting and keeping younger EMTs isa critical issue for all EMS agencies.
Gen X must be chameleons, not dinosaurs and provide responsible leadershipand positive direction.
Dinosaurs and Millennials are a winning combination… they just don’t know ityet.
Jurassic EMS
MEDIC Solutions
SummarySummaryRecognize the impact loss of long term providers canhave on your membership.Consider the amount of “Knowledge Capital” youragency possesses.Create a plan to develop a culture of respect andunderstanding.Challenge the status quo.Encourage each generation to share their uniqueskills.Communication skills are the forte of theexperienced provider.Technology is second nature to Generation Y.The use of technology cannot be avoided.
16
Jurassic EMS
MEDIC Solutions
Jurassic EMS
MEDIC Solutions
Questions?Questions?Thank You for yourAttention!
Jurassic EMS
MEDIC Solutions
Thank you for all you do!Thank you for all you do!
17
Jurassic EMS
MEDIC Solutions
Redesigning Volunteer [email protected]
Jurassic EMS
MEDIC Solutions
Resources & ReferencesResources & References‘Managing a multigenerational workforce’ -Schenck.com
‘The Essential Drucker: The Best of Sixty Years of Peter Drucker'sEssential Writings on Management’by Peter F. Drucker
‘ Age of Discontinuity - Guidelines for our changing society’by Peter F Drucker
‘Winning’- Jack Welch , (retired) CEO, General Electric
‘The Good Dinosaur’ - Pixar, Walt Disney 2015
‘ When I’m 64 ’ - The Beatles, Capitol Records 1964
‘ The Karate Kid ’ - Columbia Pictures 1984
‘ Night Shift’- Ron Howard, 1982’