It’s no secret that EMS is increasingly being called on to do more with less. Reimbursement challenges and workforce shortages – combined with rising call volumes, higher operating costs, and our expanding role as patients’ access point for primary care – mean that agencies across the country are feeling the squeeze. And with steep Medicaid cuts on the horizon, these challenges will only intensify over the next year and a half.

I recently had the opportunity to join other advocates for the National Association of EMT’s ‘EMS on the Hill’ Day, focused on raising awareness for some of these critical issues. From reimbursement of treatment in place (TIP), to workforce development and funding to jumpstart mobile integrated health (MIH), the list of priorities before Congress is equal parts urgent and substantial.

Against this backdrop, it is critical that EMS has a strong, clear voice at the federal level. But in this challenging environment, that’s not enough. Securing the resources, funding, and support your agency needs doesn’t start on Capitol Hill — it starts in your own community, by telling your agency’s story to local decision makers, partner agencies, and the public.

Here are a few of the key takeaways from my visit to Capitol Hill to help you get started in your own community:

1.         Tell your story

Congressional staff and other industry leaders echoed a clear message: decision-makers want to hear your story — the tangible impact you’re having in your community, the members of your team helping to make a difference, and candid discussions about the challenges your agency is facing.

There is no one-size-fits-all solution to meet your agency’s needs, and the story you tell members of the community should make that clear. What specific examples of your impact in the community can you point to? How does your agency show up as a member of the community between calls? What unique demands or challenges do you face?

2.         Know your numbers

Advocating for your agency is not about backroom conversations, fancy dinners, or simply “who you know.” Effective advocacy requires you to have the data to help you assess your agency’s needs, back up your story, and make a clear and compelling case for the support you need.

While many agencies have this data somewhere, effectively telling your agency’s story means having this data font-and-center to help crystallize the work you do, and the support your agency needs, in the eyes of your community.

3.         Start early

Too often, EMS agencies introduce themselves to local decision-makers in the same conversation that they are asking for help. This not only decreases the likelihood of success,  it puts your agency in constant defense mode. For instance, rather than being a part of the conversation while the city council shapes the budget for next year, you only get to react to budget cuts after they’ve already been proposed.

Instead, establishing relationships with local decision makers in advance will make you their first phone call when an EMS-related issue comes across their desk, guaranteeing your seat at the table when decisions that are being made affect you.

Today, more than ever, it’s critical that EMS has a voice – at the federal level, in each state, and perhaps most importantly, in every community. Your agency’s story is its most powerful tool to help local decision-makers understand how to support you, and ensure long-term stability for your organization. The best time to start telling it is right now.

If you want to learn more about how The Holdsworth Group can help, click here.