Outcomes: Part 2

Dive back into Outcomes: Part 2, the discussion of the impacts of outcomes on job satisfaction and practical measures of success on WFCA’s Fire Headlines Podcast.

Outcomes: Part 2

This marks the continuation of our conversation about outcomes in the fire service. To catch up on Part 1, please refer to Episode 43.

The Fire Headlines team received an email from a fire service leader inquiring about the concept of outcomes in the fire service. The email outlines the challenges faced in translating this concept into actionable strategies in their organization. Fire Headlines Host Samantha Didion is joined by a panel of experts to discuss these questions.

Joining Samantha on the panel this week are Chief Jeff Buchanan, along with Dr. Matt Hinds-Aldrich, a senior risk strategy lead at the American Association of Insurance Services, and his colleague Sara Wood, an expert in Community Risk Reduction and Data Analysis.

Impact of Outcomes on Job Satisfaction and Morale

The first question posed to the panel is, “Do you believe there’s a direct impact on job satisfaction and department morale if firefighters could see they are ‘moving the needle’ in regards to community safety and overall outcomes?” Sara Wood stresses the significance of aligning outcomes with the concerns and priorities of firefighters to boost job satisfaction, underlining the need for a direct correlation between their efforts and community safety measures. Conversely, Chief Buchanan delves into his extensive experience, underscoring the detrimental effects of flawed analysis on morale. Drawing from his tenure in Atlanta, Dr. Hinds-Aldrich illustrates how misguided evaluation methodologies can lead to disillusionment and disengagement among firefighting personnel, emphasizing the criticality of accurate and meaningful assessment frameworks in maintaining departmental morale and efficacy.

Practical Measures of Success

Samantha asks the panel what success looks like and what they believe is the most practical or realistic way to measure success. Jeff begins the discussion, highlighting the inherent limitations of exclusively using response times as a metric for success and advocating instead for a more comprehensive evaluation framework. He emphasizes the importance of directing attention towards factors that are within the realm of control, such as call processing time and the implementation of effective traffic management strategies. Jeff says broadening the scope of evaluation to encompass these critical elements, fire service organizations can gain a more nuanced understanding of their operational effectiveness and make informed decisions to optimize service delivery and community safety outcomes.

Best Feedback Mechanisms for Firefighters

The final question for the panel was, “what is the best feedback loop or mechanism for the firefighters going on the calls to then see the overall result?” Dr. Hinds-Aldrich refers back to his experience with statistics at Atlanta Fire Rescue to underscore the significance of evaluating all facets of the organization beyond just operational metrics. He stresses the need for a comprehensive approach to assessment, he suggests that a holistic evaluation framework enables fire departments to identify areas for improvement and enhance overall effectiveness. Sara adds to this topic by shedding light on the communication hurdles prevalent within fire departments, emphasizing the critical need for robust mechanisms to disseminate information to all personnel effectively. By addressing these communication challenges, Sara suggests that fire departments can foster better collaboration, transparency, and alignment towards common goals, ultimately enhancing organizational efficiency and effectiveness.

Connect with Dr. Matt Hinds-Aldrich: Matt Hinds-Aldrich | LinkedIn

Connect with Sara Wood: Sara Wood | LinkedIn

You can email Fire Headlines at [email protected].

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