Prehospital emergency care : official journal of the National Association of EMS Physicians and the National Association of State EMS Directors
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Incivility, defined as negative interpersonal acts that violate workplace and social norms, has been linked to negative outcomes in healthcare settings. A minimal amount is known regarding workplace incivility among emergency medical services (EMS) professionals. Our objectives were to (1) evaluate the prevalence of incivility and factors associated with experiencing workplace incivility; (2) describe the association between incivility and workforce-reducing factors (stress, career satisfaction, turnover intentions, and workplace absences); and (3) quantify the association between incivility and the organizational culture of an EMS agency. ⋯ Nearly half of respondents experienced incivility once a week or more, and incivility was associated with potential workforce-reducing factors. Further research is needed to understand how organizational climate and interpersonal behaviors in the workplace affect the EMS workforce.
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The scene-size-up is a crucial first step in the response to a mass casualty incident (MCI). Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) may potentially enhance the scene-size-up with real-time visual feedback during chaotic, evolving or inaccessible events. We performed this study to test the feasibility of paramedics using UAV video from a simulated MCI to identify scene hazards, initiate patient triage, and designate key operational locations. ⋯ This study demonstrates the ability of UAV technology to remotely facilitate the scene size-up in an MCI. Additional research is required to further investigate optimal strategies to deploy UAVs in this context.