Keeping The Best! - How to Retain ALS Providers - Workforce Utilization Strategies and Applying EMS Retention Principles

Sep 23, 2026

Uploaded by Margaret

Keeping The Best! EMS Workforce Retention workbook series focuses on retaining advanced life support (ALS) personnel amid rising demand for pre-hospital and critical care services. It highlights workforce challenges driven by an aging population, increasing EMS call volume, and expanding communities in Virginia where ALS provider needs can outpace supply. The workbook credits statewide collaboration to develop retention guidance, incorporates perspectives from EMS managers and ALS provider focus groups, and outlines findings and recommendations to support decision-making and implementation of ALS retention programs.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages101

Reading Time4 h 15 min

AccessFree to download

Preface

Purpose and workforce challenge

Development collaboration in Virginia

Project team and ALS focus group

Importance of preserving EMS personnel

How the workbook supports retention decisions

Message from VAGEMSA

Keeping The Best! How to Retain ALS Providers: Workforce Utilization Strategies & Applying EMS Retention Principles Preface This is the last in a series of four workbooks in the Keeping the Best! EMS Workforce Retention tool kit. This workbook addresses the pressing need of retaining our advanced life support (ALS) personnel. There are nine jurisdictions in Virginia among the 100 fastest growing communities in the country. An aging population requires and consumes more emergency medical and critical care services. A rising EMS call volume is placing greater demands on our pre-hospital providers. EMS agency leaders and managers are caught in a situation where the demand for ALS providers is increasing faster than the supply. Development of this workbook is an example of collaboration at its finest. The Office of EMS partnered with Virginia Association of Volunteer Rescue Squads (VAVRS) and the Virginia Association of Governmental Emergency Medical Services Administrators,(VAGEMSA), the Virginia Ambulance Association and the Regional EMS Councils to develop this workbook that focuses on the issues pertaining to the retention of ALS personnel in Virginia. The author of this workbook is Sara L. Gaba of Renaissance Resources, a Richmond based consulting firm. The project development team was drawn from EMS managers and administrators from across Virginia. The team members include: | Name and Title | EMS Agency | City/County | | --- | --- | --- | | Craig Bryant, EMS Coordinator | City of Salem Fire and EMS Department | Salem | | Dreama Chandler, Vice President | Wythe County Rescue Squad
VAVRS | Wythe | | Jennie Collins,
Battalion Chief | Prince William County
Department of Fire and Rescue | Prince William | | J. Dan Eggleston, Chief | Albemarle County
Department of Fire-Rescue | Albemarle | | Joey King, Vice President of Operations | LifeCare Medical Transports | Stafford | | Bobby Lukhard, EMS Director | Chesterfield Fire and EMS | Chesterfield | | David Moody, Fire/ Rescue Chief | King George County
Department of Emergency Services | King George | continued | Name and Title | EMS Agency | City/County | | --- | --- | --- | | Thad Moore,
Operations Manager | Marion Lifesaving Crew | Smyth | | Bruce Nedelka, Division Chief | City of Virginia Beach EMS | Virginia Beach | | Gerry Pfeifer,
Captain,
Recruitment Section | Fairfax County
Fire and Rescue Department | Fairfax | | Patty Russell, Human Resources Specialist | Loudoun County
Fire, Rescue and Emergency Management | Loudoun | | Ken Pullen,
Program Representative | Virginia Office of
Emergency Medical Services | Rappahannock | The project development also included the insight and experience from a focus group of ALS providers from Virginia EMS agencies. The ALS focus group members include: | Name, Title,
Virginia Certification | EMS Agency | City/County | | --- | --- | --- | | Dreama Chandler, EMT-P Vice President | Wythe County Rescue Squad VAVRS | Wythe | | Leigh Doucet, EMT-P | Spotsylvania Co. Fire and Rescue | Spotsylvania | | Colin Flanigan, Lieutenant, EMT-P | Fairfax County
Fire and Rescue Department | Fairfax | | Harry Howe, EMT-P | Marion Life Saving Crew | Smyth | | Greg Jones,
Chief Flight Paramedic, EMT-P | Med Flight I, Chesterfield Fire and EMS | Chesterfield | | Steve Lynd, EMT-P | King George County
Department of Emergency Services | King George | | Todd McFall, Lieutenant, EMT-I | Roanoke City Fire – EMS | Roanoke | | Al Materia,
Operations Manger, EMT-P | LifeCare Medical Transports | Stafford | | Jason Stroud,
EMS Manager, EMT-P | Campbell County
Department of Public Safety | Campbell | | Hunter Weikle,
Senior Firefighter, EMT-I | City of Salem
Fire and EMS Department | Salem | It is critical to preserve and invest in our EMS personnel in order to keep them in the workforce. These personnel are essential in maintaining patient safety and promoting positive patient outcomes. T

FAQs

Why does this workbook emphasize ALS provider retention?

It addresses the pressing need to retain ALS personnel as demand for EMS and critical care services rises while supply of experienced providers becomes constrained.

What factors are contributing to the increased need for ALS providers?

The workbook cites an aging population, rising EMS call volume, and growing community expansion that increase pressure on agencies to meet ALS service demand.

Who contributed to developing the workbook?

Development involved collaboration between the Office of EMS, Virginia EMS organizations, Regional EMS Councils, and a project team drawn from managers and administrators statewide, plus input from an ALS provider focus group.

Sep 23, 2026

Uploaded by Margaret