William G McDonald
Doctorate
Doctorate Title: The impact of ambulances using lights and sirens on non-critical patient transports.
Doctorate Description: Unnecessary use of lights and sirens is a major cause of vehicle crashes contributing to injury and death among emergency medical technicians (EMTs). Other sources of occupational stress raise the risk of collision, while the speed of transport is not increased. Scholarly research on these practices is limited. The purpose of this study was to examine whether EMT stress levels and ambulance transport times differ as a function of using lights and sirens, and whether EMTs support policies on their use. The theoretical frameworks were Lazarus’s theory of occupational stress and Lazarus’s and Folkman’s transactional model of stress and coping. Data for this quasi-experimental
quantitative study, collected from 80 New Jersey EMTs using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale, were assessed for ambulance transport times for noncritical patients, and EMT stress levels, both with and without the use of lights and sirens. Data were analyzed using the t test and regression procedures. Results showed no statistically significant difference in transport times with lights and sirens in use compared to when they were not used. The findings were statistically significant, however, in the stress level of the
EMTs when lights and sirens were used compared to when they were not. These findings suggest that the use of lights and sirens in transporting noncritical patients was unnecessary. Recommendations include the development of a state EMS policy to provide guidelines on the use of lights and sirens, or a system that allows for the objective evaluation of whether the situation warrants the use of lights and sirens. The implications for positive social change include savings of money, property, and, most importantly, human lives.
Details:
Type: PhD
University: Walden University
Primary Supervisor: Dr. Laima Warnecke
Category: Staff Wellbeing
Funding:
Start Date: 2012
End Date: 2013
Status: Complete
Thesis
ThesisResearch Interests
EMS Provider Safety, EMS Education, EMS Medical/Legal Topics, Scope of Practice, Standard of Care, Quality Improvement, System Design, and Government Relations
Publications
The Importance of Proper Documentation for EMS Providers - PRESENTED AT NEW JERSEY NATIONAL EMS CONFERENCE IN NOVEMBER 2023.
SICK OR NOT SICK? THE NEED FOR A RAPID 60-90 SECOND PRIMARY EXAM - PRESENTED AT NEW JERSEY NATIONAL EMS CONFERENCE IN NOVEMBER 2023.
PTSD in EMS: Why do we as EMS personnel keep the symptoms of PTSD hidden? Are there ways to change our culture? PRESENTED REMOTELY VIA THE NEW YORK STATE VITAL SIGNS ACADEMY – JULY 2023.
Back to the basics: What an EMS provider can do with just their hands and a few small pieces of equipment that can save a life. PRESENTED REMOTELY VIA THE NEW YORK STATE VITAL SIGNS ACADEMY – JUNE 2023.
LAW! WHAT IS IT GOOD FOR? KEEPING THE EMS PROVIDER PROTECTED FROM LITIGATION AND PREPARING THEM FOR THE INEVITABLE LAWSUIT. PRESENTED REMOTELY VIA THE NEW YORK STATE VITAL SIGNS ACADEMY – DECEMBER 2022.
WHEELCHAIRS, VENTS, AND OTHER SPECIAL NEEDS EQUIPMENT ENCOUNTERED IN EMS. OH MY! THE THINGS YOU DON’T LEARN IN EMT SCHOOL – PRESENTED REMOTELY VIA THE NEW YORK STATE VITAL SIGNS ACADEMY – DECEMBER 2022.
WHAT THE HECK JUST HAPPENED? CONDUCTING THE INVESTIGATION – PRESENTED AT NEW JERSEY NATIONAL EMS CONFERENCE IN NOVEMBER 2022.
NEXT GENERATION LEADERS! WHERE DO WE FIND THEM? - PRESENTED AT NEW JERSEY NATIONAL EMS CONFERENCE IN NOVEMBER 2022.
SITUATIONAL AWARENESS AND PPE IN EMS. WHY HAVE WE NOT PERFECTED THIS YET? PRESENTED AT THE NEW YORK STATE EMS VITAL SIGNS CONFERENCE IN - OCTOBER 2022.
SICK OR NOT SICK? THE NEED FOR A RAPID 60-90 SECOND PRIMARY EXAM PRESENTED AT THE NEW YORK STATE EMS VITAL SIGNS CONFERENCE - OCTOBER 2022.
PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION IN TIMES OF CRISIS: A CASE STUDY OF HURRICANE HARVEY. THE JOURNAL OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION MANAGEMENT 2019.
THE IMPACT OF USING LIGHTS AND SIRENS DURING NONCRITICAL PATIENT TRANSPORTS. THE JOURNAL OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION MANAGEMENT 2019.
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION: CHALLENGES AND INNOVATION IN CITIZEN ENGAGEMENT. JOURNAL OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION MANAGEMENT 2017.
GETTING BACK TO THE BASICS! – PRESENTED AT THE NEW JERSEY EMS CONFERENCE – NOVEMBER 2016.
IDENTIFYING THE “SMOKE POINT IN EMS” – PRESENTED AT THE NEW JERSEY EMS CONFERENCE – NOVEMBER 2016.
IDENTIFYING THE “SMOKE POINT IN EMS” – PRESENTED AT THE SUNY EMPIRE STATE COLLEGE “ALL COLLEGE” CONFERENCE – MARCH 2016.
CONTRIBUTING AUTHOR FOR THE NAEMT’S ALL HAZARDS DISASTER RESPONSE PROGRAM – 2016
THE IMPORTANCE OF A DEDICATED EMERGENCY MANAGER IN U.S. HOSPITALS. MEDCRAVE JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH – JANUARY 2016.
IDENTIFYING THE “SMOKE POINT” - PRESENTED IN COLLABORATION WITH MICHELE SILEO, J.D., AT THE NEW JERSEY EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS ASSOCIATION ANNUAL CONFERENCE – MAY 2015.
EXPERIENCES OF WOMEN IN THE MILITARY. SAGE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF PSYCHOLOGY AND GENDER – 2015.
EXPERIENCES OF WOMEN IN PUBLIC SAFETY. SAGE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF PSYCHOLOGY AND GENDER – 2015.
GENDER DISCRIMINATION. SAGE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF PSYCHOLOGY AND GENDER – 2015.
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES. SAGE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF PSYCHOLOGY AND GENDER – 2015.
AMERICA IN PROTEST: SAFETY TECHNIQUES AND STANDARDS FOR EMS PERSONNEL - PRESENTED AT THE NEW JERSEY ASSOCIATION OF PARAMEDIC PROGRAMS “LEADING EDGE” CONFERENCE – APRIL 2015.
EBOLA SCREENING IN THE UNITED STATES – MEDCRAVE JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH – JANUARY 2015.
THE LACK OF EDUCATION FOR EMERGENCY MANAGERS AND THE PROSPECTIVE OF EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS FOR FUTURE EMERGENCY MANAGERS – PRESENTED AT THE NEW JERSEY EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS ASSOCIATION ANNUAL CONFERENCE – MAY, 2014.
POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER: A GROWING EPIDEMIC AMONG PARAMEDICS – PRESENTED AT THE NEW JERSEY ASSOCIATION OF PARAMEDIC PROGRAMS “LEADING EDGE” CONFERENCE – APRIL 2014.
THE FUTURE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT EDUCATION IN THE UNITED STATES– PRESENTED AT THE SUNY EMPIRE STATE COLLEGE “ALL COLLEGE” CONFERENCE – MARCH 2014.
POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER: A GROWING EPIDEMIC AMONG PARAMEDICS – PRESENTED AT THE SUNY EMPIRE STATE COLLEGE FALL ACADEMIC CONFERENCE – OCTOBER 2013.
THE IMPACT OF AMBULANCES USING LIGHTS AND SIRENS ON NON-CRITICAL PATIENT TRANSPORTS – PRESENTED AT THE NEW JERSEY ASSOCIATION OF PARAMEDIC PROGRAMS “LEADING EDGE” CONFERENCE – APRIL 2013.
THE IMPACT OF AMBULANCES USING LIGHTS AND SIRENS ON NON-CRITICAL PATIENT TRANSPORTS – DOCTORAL DISSERTATION - FEBRUARY 2013.
EIGHT TIPS FOR SAFER SCENES – EMS WORLD MAGAZINE – MARCH 2012.
Paramedic PhD is endorsed by:
