Category: Industry Insights

3 Must-Have ePCR Integrations

posted on Jul 14, 2020 Best Practices

Digital patient records – also known as electronic patient care records or ePCRs – offer countless benefits in prehospital care. From built-in analytics, easier-to-complete forms, and less paperwork post-call, ePCR…

Fire RMS Basics: Software That Benefits Fire Departments

posted on Jul 07, 2020 Best Practices

Today’s fire departments are increasingly facing the blessing and the curse of large amounts of data. From incident reports and inspections to personnel information and electronic patient care records (ePCRs),…

Webinar: How to Select Your New ePCR

posted on Jun 18, 2020 Best Practices

As department’s needs change, compliance requirements evolve, and technologies mature, EMS leaders have a responsibility to ensure their patient record solution is up to snuff. Whether making the big leap…

ESO Releases Next-Gen Version of ESO Fire Software Suite

posted on Jun 03, 2020 Company Updates

Built on decades of service to the fire industry and a wide network of industry professionals and partners, ESO recently released the newest version of its fire-specific record management system…

Improving Patient Outcomes with Hospital/EMS Collaboration

posted on May 26, 2020 Best Practices

Sharing patient information along the continuum of care not only improves patient care and operational efficiencies, but it also allows learning opportunities for all providers. Having access to a complete…

Improving Large Scale Fire Operations with a Full Fire RMS

posted on May 26, 2020 Best Practices

Larger departments face challenges ranging from training the newest individual, all the way up to managing change in leadership. A single, cloud-based work environment not only brings a new team…

What Firefighters Want from Technology

posted on May 20, 2020 Best Practices

A recent study of the global fire service is indicating that agencies across the world are experiencing a paradigm shift in not only how they are currently use data, but…

Two New Grants Help Fire Agencies Amid the COVID-19 Battle

posted on Apr 23, 2020 Best Practices

EMS agencies and first responders continue to fight COVID-19 on the frontlines in a health emergency unprecedented in recent history. And while health care professionals face the most immediate risks…

Preplan Today, Protect Tomorrow

posted on Apr 07, 2020 Best Practices

Data is everywhere on the fire field and information is constantly being recorded and shared. Whether it is new “smart” PPE that can monitor hazardous chemicals in the air, trucks…

ESO Announces Three New Industry Prediction Papers for 2020

posted on Feb 18, 2020 Best Practices

ESO marked the start of 2020 with the release of a new set of industry predictions papers, leveraging its years of expertise along with an extensive collection of data submitted…

Why Hospitals Should Care About Improving EMS Relationships

posted on Feb 05, 2020 Best Practices

When a patient picks up the phone to call 911, the clock starts ticking. As the ambulance arrives and the EMS team goes to work, healthcare begins and does not…

Fire Trends Report: Number of EMS calls vs. Fire Calls

posted on Nov 25, 2019 Best Practices

As an industry leader in fire, pre-hospital, and hospital industries, ESO encounters a wealth of data from its clients and partners. Each year, fire data is collected and analyzed to…

Fire Trends 2019 Report: Most Common Types of Fire Calls

posted on Nov 22, 2019 Best Practices

You most likely know what the most common types of calls your fire agency receives on a regular basis; much of it depends on your communities and their particular characteristics….

‘DOCUMENT’ to Improve Run Reports for Your EMS Agency

posted on Sep 25, 2019 Best Practices

Accurate documentation for EMS agencies is key to success both in the field, and in the office. Not only does it improve patient outcomes, it also provides accurate claims processing,…

Controversies in Spinal Motion Restriction

posted on Sep 25, 2019 Best Practices

Every so often, a concept that has been passed down for generations of first responders is questioned, and surprising new data potentially changes one of the most basic, accepted treatment…

9 Important Lessons Learned from Hurricane Florence

posted on Sep 25, 2019 Best Practices

In September 2018, the powerful Hurricane Florence made landfall in the Carolinas, causing catastrophic damage by dumping more than 30” of rain, sustaining winds of up to 140 mph, and…

EMS More Commonly Face Physical, Verbal Assault on the Job

posted on Sep 25, 2019 Best Practices

Is it becoming more dangerous to work in the EMS industry? Recent studies, both international and domestic, are suggesting that EMS personnel are increasingly experiencing workplace abuse, both physical and…

Women and Minority Groups Remain Underrepresented in EMS

posted on Sep 23, 2019 Best Practices

Talk of “workplace diversity” is nothing new across many industries. But when it comes to healthcare and emergency medicine, creating a workforce that reflects the communities being served can help…

EMS: Prep for New DEA Controlled Substance Regulations

posted on Sep 17, 2019 Best Practices

After decades of blurred lines and state-driven interpretation of the Controlled Substance Act, the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is refining and clarifying its requirements specific to EMS agencies…

Why First Responders Face Increased Risk for PTSD, Suicide

posted on Aug 23, 2019 Best Practices

For most Americans, a typical day at the office comes with the usual ups and downs, some stress, difficult clients, perhaps some inner-office politics. For first responders, on the other…

Industry Insight: EMS Rates of Complete Stroke Assessments

posted on Aug 23, 2019 Best Practices

At the end of 2018, ESO released its second annual EMS Index, an in-depth report covering key data points and trends in the EMS industry, based on more than 7.58…

3 Best Practices for EMS Documenting Opioid Cases

posted on Aug 19, 2019 Best Practices

In 2016, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released concerning statistics about the use and abuse of opioids in the U.S., sparking a nationwide response to the duly…

4 Reasons Why Your EMS Data is Important to NEMSIS

posted on Aug 07, 2019 Best Practices

If you are a part of an EMS agency in any U.S. state – or the majority of U.S. territories – you undoubtedly are aware of the efforts of the…

ESO EHR: The Modern ePCR for EMS

posted on Jul 31, 2019 Data & Analytics

An electronic patient care record (ePCR) is a digital document containing key patient information, assessments, treatments, narrative, and signatures. Before ePCRs arriving on scene, EMS agencies, ambulances, and fire departments…

5 Ways Inspection Makes Fire Response More Efficient

posted on Jul 29, 2019 Best Practices

For fire agencies everywhere, inspecting properties within a community is a key role that fulfills not only national, state, and local safety requirements but can actually help increase efficiencies within…

Make NFPA 1620 Plans a Reality for Your Fire Agency

posted on Jul 15, 2019 Best Practices

In firefighting, property inspection plays a key role served by fire departments in their communities, creating not only safer communities on a daily basis but also paving the way for…

6 Key Data Points Every Fire Department Should Analyze

posted on Jul 11, 2019 Best Practices

Data in the fire industry has been a forefront topic in recent years, and for good reason. Tracking and analyzing data, statistics, and trends can be an extremely powerful tool…

Successful Fire Grant Application Tips

posted on Jul 08, 2019 Best Practices

Have you ever wondered exactly what people who approve fire grant applications are looking for when they make their decisions? If you’ve ever wished for an insider’s perspective on fire…

More Power with Integrated ePCR & Fire Software

posted on Jul 02, 2019 Best Practices

If you’ve ever found yourself painfully re-entering data from a call from one software tool to another, you’ve probably felt the frustration of those duplicated efforts. With numerous other tasks…

ET3: What You Need to Know

posted on May 28, 2019 Industry Insights

Ambulance service providers across the U.S. will soon have the chance to partner with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in an experimental 5-year payment model aimed at…

6 Unexpected Benefits of Continuing Education for EMS

posted on May 20, 2019 Best Practices

As the nation celebrates National EMS Week, EMS agencies and citizens alike across the U.S. are recognizing the important work emergency health professionals accomplish in their communities. An important element…

10 Signs You Need a New Fire RMS

posted on Apr 11, 2019 Best Practices

If you work at a fire department you use software every day to document calls, perform checks, run reports and more. Software has become an integral part of the fire…

How One Fire Agency Made the Switch to More Useful Data

posted on Apr 08, 2019 Best Practices

For today’s professional EMS and fire agencies, data analysis is a necessary component of daily operating procedures. Not only does it ensure that your agency remains in compliance and can…

Screening Tool Optimizes EMS Mental Health Transports

posted on Apr 05, 2019 Best Practices

There are more than 7.4 million mental health–related emergency department (ED) visits in the U.S. every year, and of these, approximately 30 percent arrive by ambulance. Unfortunately, due to a…

Fighting PTSD in the Firehouse

posted on Apr 03, 2019 Best Practices

They’re heroic and brave and can handle any situation. They run towards danger while others are running away. They enter a fire and emerge with rescued people, animals, property. They…

5 Ways Geolocation Helps Fire and EMS

posted on Mar 25, 2019 Best Practices

New and free tools are now available to help first responders be more prepared for emergency response as well as more efficiently locate victims, team members, and community resources, all…

Take Aim to Create Meaningful Process Improvement

posted on Mar 11, 2019 Best Practices

If you’ve ever had a quality improvement project spin its wheels and get nowhere – or put countless hours of effort and work into implementing an intervention just to have…

Battling Rising Readmission Rates for Stroke

posted on Jan 30, 2019 Best Practices

It is predicted that an additional 3.4 million U.S. adults will have had a stroke by 2030, a 20.5% increase in prevalence from 2012. With this rising prevalence of strokes,…

The Best Data to Illustrate a Fire Department’s Value

posted on Jan 23, 2019 Best Practices

Although firefighters primarily think of people they protect and serve as members of their community, they are, in fact, also customers. And just like any business, it’s important for executives…

Understanding the Role of the 911 Dispatcher

posted on Jan 21, 2019 Industry Insights

Understanding the Role of the 911 Dispatcher In more than 6,000 public safety answering points (PSAPs) around the nation, an unsung hero plays a key role. They help save lives…

Improve EMS Metrics: 3 Crucial Steps

posted on Jan 11, 2019 Best Practices

Performance metrics are becoming increasingly important in the health care industry, and EMS agencies are beginning to feel the effect. “Value-based health care” is on the rise and the percentage…

Top 10 PCR Mistakes and How EMS Can Avoid Them

posted on Dec 17, 2018 Best Practices

On an especially busy shift or during long hours, it may be tempting to rush through the electronic patient care record (ePCR), or feel compelled to move on quickly to…

How EHR Training is Improving Physician Job Satisfaction

posted on Dec 06, 2018 Best Practices

When going through medical school, most future physicians imagine saving lives, making a difference in the health of countless adults and children, or maybe even discovering the cure for some terrible…

Closing the Feedback Loop from Hospital to EMS

posted on Nov 13, 2018 Best Practices

In emergency response, EMTs have traditionally focused on the immediate impression and care of a patient, rapid transport to the appropriate facility, and, finally, a successful hand off to an…

The Barriers and Benefits of Telehealth Technologies

posted on Nov 05, 2018 Best Practices

It’s not uncommon for people today to conduct a wide range of daily tasks and business remotely. From online banking, to grocery shopping, to airline reservations, and even registering your…

Thermal Imaging Cameras for More Effective Firefighting

posted on Nov 01, 2018 Best Practices

Today’s firefighting agency has an invaluable tool in its mission to protect lives and properties: the thermal imaging camera (TIC). A TIC is a device that detects infrared energy, and…

4 Ways Hospitals Can Partner with EMS to Reduce Readmission

posted on Sep 10, 2018 Best Practices

Hospital readmissions can pose a real problem for health care providers, not only in keeping emergency departments (EDs) packed and overt-stressed, but in driving costs higher and higher, and causing…

Emergency Department Costs, Severity of Cases on the Rise

posted on Sep 06, 2018 Data & Analytics

A recent study is showing that emergency department spending per patient has nearly doubled from 2009 to 2016 – with a marked increase in the number of highest severity ratings…

3 Steps to Implement Your EMS Agency’s New ePCR

posted on Aug 31, 2018 Best Practices

In 1966, a famous whitepaper was published and made its way all the way to the desk of the President of the United States, offering research that proved that, at…

It’s Coming – The 2018 EMS Index: Mid-Year Update

posted on Aug 14, 2018 Best Practices

Earlier this year, we identified a number of trends we believed would have an impact on EMS organizations in 2018. The prevailing theme is data. Or, rather, the need for…

The Benefits of SaaS and The Cloud for First Responders

posted on Aug 02, 2018 Data & Analytics

You may often hear about “The Cloud” or SaaS solutions – short for “software as a service” – and wonder if and how this could benefit the business of first…

The Future of Healthcare Analytics

posted on Jul 27, 2018 Best Practices

As healthcare providers and administrators continue to pursue the so-called Triple Aim – to improve patient experience of care, to improve the health of populations, and to reduce the per…

Let’s Talk Smart Firefighting

posted on Jul 13, 2018 Industry Insights

What is Smart Firefighting?  According to the National Fire Protection Agency, in 2015, U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated 365,500 home structure fires that caused 2,560 deaths, 11,075 civilian injuries,…

Sensors and the Future of Firefighting Equipment

posted on Jul 11, 2018 Industry Insights

Future Firefighting Tech: 4 New Technologies That Ensure Firefighter Safety Very few other occupations on Earth result in immediate death if a worker’s personal protective equipment (PPE) is breached. Similar…

Fighting Fire with Sound: Wave Extinguisher

posted on Jul 10, 2018 Industry Insights

Two former U.S. electrical engineering students have discovered a cutting-edge and unconventional way to fight fires: with sound. Specifically, bass frequencies between 30 and 60 Hz. While the concept of…

The Use of Drones in Firefighting

posted on Jul 09, 2018 Industry Insights

When fighting a fire or responding to an incident, every piece of information can be important in creating an effective response. From pre-planning data pulled from inspections, to knowledge of…

5 Ways Data Improves the Patient Experience

posted on Jul 03, 2018 Best Practices

Data is available in an over-abundance in health care settings, and a patient’s experience is becoming more and more digitized. The key, however, is knowing how to process and use…

How the Internet of Things Impacts Health Care

posted on Jun 12, 2018 Best Practices

As a wide range of industries rely more and more on the Internet of Things (IoT) to make life more seamless, individuals are recording and sharing information at unprecedented levels….

Transitioning to NEMSIS 3: Three Key Steps to Prepare

posted on Jun 05, 2018 Best Practices

If you’re like many EMS service providers across the U.S., you’re probably preparing for – or currently working towards – integration of the new NEMSIS Version 3 standards for your…

What Veteran Firefighters Can Share with Newcomers 

posted on Jun 01, 2018 Industry Insights

It’s been said that the for a veteran firefighter, the officer’s hand light is the heaviest tool you’ll ever pick up, because it represents the weight of responsibility that you must now…

New Data on Stroke Assessment Could Mean Change for EMS

posted on Apr 30, 2018 Best Practices

The assessment and treatment of acute stroke patients by EMS technicians is on the cusp of a major shift, similar to that experienced in recent years for the screening and…

A Look at Data-Driven Decisions for Fire Depts. – Part 1

posted on Apr 25, 2018 Data & Analytics

As a fire department, are you effective? Are you making defensible decisions for things like staffing, operations, budget? If you answered yes, Jason Hathcock and Frank Blackley challenge you to…

Big Data, Smart Data and Fire

posted on Apr 23, 2018 Data & Analytics

Earlier this year, we predicted trends that were going to have an impact on firefighters and fire departments around the country. One of them was about the use of data….

Data Integration – Why EMS is a Great Partner for Hospitals

posted on Apr 03, 2018 Industry Insights

There are fewer faster or dramatic ways to change the relationship between EMS and hospitals than with the vendor-agnostic, bidirectional data exchange that comes with ESO Health Data Exchange (HDE)….

How Fire Inspections Software Makes Paper Obsolete

posted on Mar 06, 2018 Industry Insights

From one fire agency to the next, you can bet your next paycheck that each has their own way of conducting inspections. There’s also no doubt that inspectors are focused…

Keep it Simple: Integrating EMS and Hospital Communications

posted on Feb 05, 2018 Industry Insights

The best presentations at ESO’s annual Wave conferences turn into conversations among attendees and presenters. Everyone shares experiences, “aha” moments, and resources. That’s what happened when Karrie Austin, RN, hosted…

Fight Opioid Crisis with EMS Data from ESO

posted on Jun 05, 2017 Data & Analytics

Drug overdose deaths and opioid-involved deaths continue to increase in the United States. According to the latest figures, more than six out of 10 drug overdose deaths now involve an opioid, and every day 91 Americans die of opioid overdose.

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