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Hosts Scot Phelps with Maria Werner talk about why body cameras are a must in EMS for everyone’s sake.
Premises
1. George Floyd trial making extensive use of police body cameras to explain EMS events. EMS investigations are already using police body cameras and other cameras to investigate EMS conduct. NJ OEMS investigators have and use body cameras when conducting investigations.
2. Cameras are everywhere exceptT from the EMS point of view which puts us at a disadvantage in he said/she said events. I have cameras in my apartment, in my car, on my drive to work, at my workplace, and in my paramedic unit already.
3. Body cameras can be used for quality assurance and live oversight and as an educational tool. More EMS systems are using telemedicine to assess patients.
4. Body cameras may limit assaults on EMS clinicians (people behave better when on camera).
5. The only real way to shave minutes off of EMS systems is to shorten cycle time. The only place to realistically shorten cycle time is in documentation. We can video document calls instead of doing a PCR. EMS systems like South Metro Fire Authority use audio transcription charting.
6. Some EMS systems like Cypress Creek and London Ambulance are using bodycams now.
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