Keren Dopelt1,2, Oren Wacht3, Refael Strugo4, Rami Miller4, Talma Kushnir5,6. 1. Department of Public Health, School of Health Sciences, Ashkelon Academic College, Ashkelon, Israel. 2. Department of Health Systems Management, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel. 3. Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O.B. 653, 84105, Beer Sheva, Israel. orenwacht@gmail.com. 4. Medical division, Magen David Adom (MDA), Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel. 5. Department of Psychology, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel. 6. Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The rate of Israeli paramedics leaving the profession has been increasing in recent years: 50% leave the profession in three years, for the most part before retirement. While approximately 2500 paramedics have been trained, only about a third of them are still active. The number of paramedics per 100,000 in Israel is only 8, compared to around 66 in the US, and in light of the shortage of paramedics it is important to enhance retention rates. The purpose of the study was to examine the factors related to paramedics leaving the profession in Israel. METHODS: 1. An online survey was sent to 1000 paramedics via Email. 533 were recruited of whom 200 have left the profession. Questions included demographics, job satisfaction, and reasons for leaving or remaining in the profession. 2. In-depth interviews with 15 paramedics who left the profession. RESULTS: Out of 1000 emails sent, 533 Paramedics responded, of which 200 paramedics who left the profession responded (73% left five years after completing training and 93% after 10 years). Among these former paramedics, choosing the paramedic profession was based mainly on an idealistic sense of mission and eagerness to help others, yet leaving the paramedic profession was related to extrinsic factors: lack of career options, extensive and strenuous physical demands accompanied by unrewarding salaries, unusually long work hours, and shift work that negatively affected family and personal life. CONCLUSIONS: It seems that work conditions, including the lack of opportunities for promotion, lack of professional prospects, and inappropriate compensation for hard work are crucial factors in the decision to leave. RECOMMENDATIONS: A joint committee of the Ministries of Health, Justice, and Finance and MDA (Magen David Adom, the national EMS in Israel) should be established for the purpose of improving the conditions and modalities of employment of paramedics and providing appropriate emotional support for paramedics who are exposed daily to work under extreme conditions of stress and human suffering. A joint effort could greatly reduce rates of leaving, training costs, and costs incidental to turnover, as well as increase job satisfaction. Moreover, regulating the profession and expanding the scope of practice to new fields like community paramedicine as part of the EMS service and expanding the scope of physician assistants as an academic profession can create opportunities for advancement and diversity at work that will help retain paramedics in the profession.
BACKGROUND: The rate of Israeli paramedics leaving the profession has been increasing in recent years: 50% leave the profession in three years, for the most part before retirement. While approximately 2500 paramedics have been trained, only about a third of them are still active. The number of paramedics per 100,000 in Israel is only 8, compared to around 66 in the US, and in light of the shortage of paramedics it is important to enhance retention rates. The purpose of the study was to examine the factors related to paramedics leaving the profession in Israel. METHODS: 1. An online survey was sent to 1000 paramedics via Email. 533 were recruited of whom 200 have left the profession. Questions included demographics, job satisfaction, and reasons for leaving or remaining in the profession. 2. In-depth interviews with 15 paramedics who left the profession. RESULTS: Out of 1000 emails sent, 533 Paramedics responded, of which 200 paramedics who left the profession responded (73% left five years after completing training and 93% after 10 years). Among these former paramedics, choosing the paramedic profession was based mainly on an idealistic sense of mission and eagerness to help others, yet leaving the paramedic profession was related to extrinsic factors: lack of career options, extensive and strenuous physical demands accompanied by unrewarding salaries, unusually long work hours, and shift work that negatively affected family and personal life. CONCLUSIONS: It seems that work conditions, including the lack of opportunities for promotion, lack of professional prospects, and inappropriate compensation for hard work are crucial factors in the decision to leave. RECOMMENDATIONS: A joint committee of the Ministries of Health, Justice, and Finance and MDA (Magen David Adom, the national EMS in Israel) should be established for the purpose of improving the conditions and modalities of employment of paramedics and providing appropriate emotional support for paramedics who are exposed daily to work under extreme conditions of stress and human suffering. A joint effort could greatly reduce rates of leaving, training costs, and costs incidental to turnover, as well as increase job satisfaction. Moreover, regulating the profession and expanding the scope of practice to new fields like community paramedicine as part of the EMS service and expanding the scope of physician assistants as an academic profession can create opportunities for advancement and diversity at work that will help retain paramedics in the profession.
Entities:
Keywords:
Decision to quit the profession; Emergency medical services; Mixed methods study; Paramedics; Work satisfaction
Authors: P Daniel Patterson; Cheryl B Jones; Michael W Hubble; Matthew Carr; Matthew D Weaver; John Engberg; Nicholas Castle Journal: Prehosp Emerg Care Date: 2010 Apr-Jun Impact factor: 3.077
Authors: Justin Mausz; Elizabeth Anne Donnelly; Sandra Moll; Sheila Harms; Meghan McConnell Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-04-17 Impact factor: 4.614
Authors: Anita Majchrowska; Jakub Pawlikowski; Mariusz Jojczuk; Adam Nogalski; Renata Bogusz; Luiza Nowakowska; Michał Wiechetek Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-02-05 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Christian Eiche; Torsten Birkholz; Fabian Konrad; Tobias Golditz; Johann Georg Keunecke; Johannes Prottengeier Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-11-26 Impact factor: 3.390