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Henry Ford said, “Whether you think you can, or think you can’t, you’re right.”
The rules of the game are changing and the future is not only unfamiliar, but feels unpredictable. What has worked in the past may or may not work in the future. What can we do when we feel overwhelmed?
In my experience, the one thing I do is try to step away from the immediate challenge and remember what I care about most. As a member of a community served by EMS and as I interact with EMS providers across the state, I experience EMS providers as people who are committed to providing the best health care possible for their communities. They deliver medical care to vehicle accident victims or a heart attack sufferer. They are also the people who hold someone’s hand on the way to the hospital or tuck a panicked spouse into the front seat for the ride into the ER. Their care and compassion make a difference that outlasts the ambulance ride.
Remembering the EMS calling and mission cannot change the challenges ahead, but telling stories about the immediate impact, shared values, commitment to the community, and long-term positive effect EMS providers have in the community can change the equation. When we start telling stories about what works and what we can build on, we begin to believe that we can do it and that it matters that we can do it.
…. and we’re right!
