Pinnacle 2024 Recap: EMS Leadership, AI, and the Future of Healthcare

Last month, I had the opportunity to attend Pinnacle, a conference for EMS leaders. I’ll have to admit, the setting on the gulf waters in Marco Island, Florida, was blissful and truly enjoyed by all. And while I thought the location couldn’t be beaten, the content and networking capabilities surpassed even the best sunsets. Below is a recap of some key highlights from the event, though it’s by no means exhaustive given the wealth of valuable content shared. Any errors in attribution are entirely my own.

What Paramedics Want

Speakers: Roxanne Peek, Senior Partner and CEO, LifeFlight Eagle, and Greg Friese, Editorial Director, Lexipol

Lexipol editor Greg Friese presented the EMS1 “What Paramedics Want” study, which I highly encourage downloading for some valuable insights. The survey covers key topics like recruiting, mental health, leadership perceptions, barriers to sleep and work, rotating shifts, family demands, and professional development—all of which shape public perceptions. Here are a few highlights from the Pinnacle session overview.

Tips for Using AI

• Write a narrative
• Get historical information
• Draft grant proposals
  
  

Keys to Crew Health Success

• Lean into things when you can make a difference
• Wellness starts with us all
• AI will help but won’t solve all our problems
• Focus on funding needs, staffing, and growing leaders

Harnessing the Power of the Brain: Insights from Dr. Julia DiGangi

Speaker: Dr. Julia DiGangi, world-renowned neuropsychologist on The Intersection of Neuroscience, Psychology, and the Human Spirit

Dr. DiGangi recently released her book Energy Rising, published by Harvard Business Review Press this September. She shared how she was initially surprised when Harvard asked her to write the book, humorously noting, "When Harvard calls, you say yes." Interestingly, she wrote the book twice, ultimately publishing what she described as a "far better" version.

In both her book and keynote, she focuses on how to harness the energy of your brain to achieve success. She also discussed the causes of emotional pain and offered practical ways to address it:

• Why EMS? Many of us are drawn to this field because of the excitement and the sense of purpose—it’s the adrenaline rush that comes with making a difference.
• Addictions often stem from unresolved pain.
• Change requires willingness.
• When our brain is tired or overworked, it resists change. People often feel frustrated when trying something new because they haven’t mentally prepared themselves. Ask yourself, “Are you attempting something new at the end of a long shift?” Your brain is less receptive to learning when it’s fatigued.
• A key to guiding people through their emotional pain, fear, anxiety, uncertainty, and doubt is not to mask it but to break it down and simplify it.
• True leaders guide themselves through their emotional pain; they don’t avoid it.

Her talk resonated, as many audience members were seen heading to Amazon to purchase her book.

The Future of EMS: Are We on an Unsustainable Course?

Speakers: Nicole Henricksen, Regional President of Operations, and Dr. Gerad Troutman, National Medical Director of Innovation, both from Global Medical Response

Nicole Henricksen and Dr. Troutman addressed the challenge of aligning various stakeholders to agree on protocols that drive meaningful change. While there is a lot of data available, the key is integration—connecting data points to analyze, improve protocols, and impact outcomes.

It’s essential to involve stakeholders and community advisory boards to share information, educate, and present the data. By highlighting the ongoing stressors and determining what’s best for the public, we can create real, positive change for communities.

Dr. Troutman also discussed whether AI could effectively and accurately analyze. He noted that AI is already being used to identify data commonalities, making it possible to generate smarter insights for patient care.

Additionally, educational programs like “Stop the Bleeding” are crucial for improving care, but there’s a clear need for greater awareness and resources.

Ultimately, it’s often less about what you want and more about what you can afford. Many EMS leaders are tasked with assessing the cost of readiness, setting public expectations, and redefining what that looks like.

For instance, shifting from traditional expectations to services like mobile health or community paramedicine to address non-emergent calls could change the game. The goal is to evolve EMS beyond being seen as just a transport service—and ensure the reimbursement systems are in place to support these advancements.

- Cathy Hill, Chief Marketing Officer