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Emergency medics insist on body cameras and sanctions for improper use of emergency teams

Only 30% of the cases that Emergency Service serves are urgent. The remaining 70 per cent are cases outside the functions of emergency teams. This was stated on the air of NOVA NEWS Galina Zaharieva, who is vice-president of the Union of Medical Assistants and Paramedics. She commented on what measures were needed for emergency assistance. Doctors insist on body cameras to be used as evidence when visiting risky addresses. They will serve as a preventive measure against aggression, Zaharieva said. According to her, panic buttons do not work because of the lack of teams of law enforcement in remote settlements. Body cameras could at least to some extent deter aggression, added the vice president of the Union of Medical Assistants and paramedics. Zaharieva also said that for the first nine months of the past year, police have registered 75 cases of aggression, but there are many more unregistered. In addition to body cameras, emergency medics also suggest imposing sanctions when emergency teams are being misused.

Watch the whole conversation in the video via the button below.

Nova News

Within four days, we witnessed a second attack on a paramedic from the Emergency Medical Center.

The Bulgarian Union of Medical Assistants and Paramedics warns that violence against medical professionals has become a worrying trend, and the lack of adequate protection of workers in emergency centers puts them at constant risk. Violence against medical professionals is a threat to their personal safety, as well as to the safety and health of patients and the whole society.

In front of Radio Sofia, the Deputy Chairman of the Board of BULASF Galina Zaharieva said that such incidents also affect the teams mentally.

In both recent cases, colleagues are over 70 years old and for the first time they have experienced physical aggression because verbal is everyday life. Once you are attacked, things change – one is no longer safe at work, I lose faith in the people across the street,” Zaharieva explained.

According to her, the reason for the increasing aggression is the unsettled positions in outpatient care.

"Really, people after the official working hours have nowhere to go and seek medical help. Everything is pouring on our colleagues," said Galina Zaharieva.

She added that teams have panic buttons on their tablets, but they don't always manage to use them. According to Zaharieva, European practice shows that a good option would be if teams are equipped with body cameras.

They don't prevent, but they discipline. Second, there is a difficulty in the evidence in subsequent pre-trial proceedings, as our colleague is usually alone, even the driver is in the ambulance. It is very difficult to gather evidence afterwards so that the perpetrators can be held accountable,” said Galina Zaharieva.

She stressed the need for training of crisis management teams.

The EU calls on all competent institutions to immediately address the issue of real safety at work in emergency centres in the country.

Once again, we draw the attention of the Ministry of Health to the problem. We expect and insist on effective prevention measures and zero tolerance for aggression against our colleagues.

You can hear details in Maria Ilieva's interview with Galina Zaharieva.

You can access the BNR news and interview via the button below.

BNR

The Union of Medical Assistants asked for emergency teams to be equipped with body cameras and panic buttons

Aggression against medics. In just seven days, three physical assaults on paramedics from the emergency centers in Gorna Oryahovitsa, Pavlikeni and Polski Trambesh were recorded in Veliko Tarnovo. Following the attacks by the Union of Medical Assistants, emergency teams were asked to be equipped with body cameras and individual panic buttons.

Zachary Zinev has been a paramedic for over 40 years. In the last 13 works in the branch of Emergency Services in Polski Trambesh. In the early hours of January 18, he responded to a report of a victim after a fight in a restaurant. The man had an arcade on his face. The doctor invited him to the emergency room. As he prepared to process the wound, the patient began to behave arrogantly.

Zahari Zinev, paramedic at FSMP - Polski Trambesh: "Dude, dude, now what are you gonna do to me, what do you got, what don't you have..." And I said to him: Be a little more cultural. If that's how you behaved at the bar, then it's no accident that you were hit. And he jumped out of the chair, came to the table where I was preparing things and gave me two punches in the back of the head. Then I put him to bed on the couch, processed his wound, glued it.

The 31-year-old man was detained for 24 hours. And the paramedic's considering leaving.

Zahari Zinev, paramedic at FSMP - Polski Trambesh: At first I said to myself: What I'm doing here, what I'm here for. Okay, but when time passes, when you think about it, you're like, These people need me, too.

The branch in Polski Trambesh employs a total of four paramedics and one doctor. They serve a total of 13 settlements. About 1,400 paramedics work in the emergency system. Most of them are of pre-retirement and retirement age. Verbal aggression is a daily routine for teams across the country, according to the Union of Medical Assistants.

Galina Zaharieva, Deputy Chairman of the Bulgarian Union of Medical Assistants and Paramedics: We don't have well-developed outpatient care, and all those patients who have nowhere to go outside working hours go to emergency care, and that's where the tension actually comes in.

For the first nine months of last year, there were 75 physical assaults on medics. The union of medical assistants wants emergency teams to be equipped with individual panic buttons and body cameras that include the riskier addresses.

Galina Zaharieva: When they know they're being photographed and that there's going to be evidence, I think it's going to have a deterrent effect.

The Department of Health says the introduction of individual panic buttons has been discussed with emergency workers. Some of them were worried that they might inadvertently trigger them. And the use of body cameras is a measure that should be subjected to a wide public and expert debate, given the sensitive situations and the processing of patients' personal and health data, the Health Ministry said.

You can watch the news and the report on BNT via the button below.

BNT

At tense times, when our health is put to the test, the presence of a trained, humane and dedicated healthcare professional is vital. Today, we would like to express our most sincere and profound gratitude to one such professional, paramedic Nina Delisubeva from the FSMP, Elena.

At the beginning of November we had to call for medical help in the remote village of Drentaza our close Dimitar Draganov, 89, who suddenly felt ill and was in severe pain. The ambulance arrived quickly. We were very impressed by Mrs. Delisubeva's quick and adequate reaction. From the moment of her arrival, she brought calm and confidence to an otherwise alarming environment.

• Quick assessment: Feldsher Delisubeva demonstrated excellent clinical judgment by immediately taking the necessary stabilization measures.
• Skillful work: Each of her actions was precise, professional and purposeful, which speaks of in-depth knowledge and extensive experience. She immediately recognized the symptoms of inflammation of the gallbladder.
• Clear communication: Feldsher Delisubeva informs us about the condition of our loved one and explains every step of the treatment in an understandable and soothing way.

Beyond the undeniable professional skills, what really touched us and what we want to emphasize is the exceptional human attitude of paramedic Delisubeva. ‘In medicine, in addition to medicines and equipment, the most powerful remedy is good treatment and care.’

In our case, paramedic Delisubeva not only fulfilled her official duty, but also gave us emotional support. With warm words and a soothing presence, she was able to reduce the stress of both our husband and father, and of us loved ones. This approach showed that for her every patient is a person, and not just another case.

In the face of paramedic Delisubeva we see a standard of dedication and professionalism in the health system. Her work is daily proof that emergency care is not just a service, but a vocation filled with responsibility and human care.

Thank you, Mrs. Delisubeva, for being there for us in the most difficult moments! We wish you health, strength and many more successes in your noble mission.

The treatment ended with an emergency surgery to remove a ruptured gallbladder at MOHAT ‘Dr. Stefan Cherkezov’. We thank the team of Dr. Stoynov from the Surgical Department who performed this intervention flawlessly and our husband and father is already healthy among the family and loved ones!

With respect and great gratitude,

Draganovi family, Drenta village, obsht. Elena

You can access the entire publication via the button below.

Yantra Today

You can read the whole post via the button below.

Clinica.bg

Aggression is not only against the medics. Unfortunately, it has established itself as a model of behavior and culture. There is no way to isolate doctors' offices from the rest of society. This is what Galina Zaharieva, Deputy Chairman of the Management Board of the Bulgarian Union of Medical Assistants and Paramedics, told BGNES.

“Aggression is ubiquitous, both verbal and physical, and perhaps a sense of impunity increases rather than reduces aggression in society. Unfortunately, the medics who work in the emergency services and are on the front line face some of the most unpleasant manifestations of aggression in society.

When a person is in an emergency, he is also not very adequate. Everyone reacts differently. But anyway, it is part of our daily lives and we have to adapt, we have no other choice," Zaharieva added.

She explained that this attitude pushes people away from the profession.

"In order to improve the situation, reforms are required in many sectors of public life, serious statesmanship is needed and the sense of impunity must not progress. But in particular, we appeal to employers to take measures to secure workplaces – through video surveillance or live security, as the working medics in emergency centres in small towns, especially at night, are alone. This in turn is due to the lack of staff in the system – people in the teams are kept to a minimum and difficult to work with. When a person works alone and the risk is great. In general, the medical profession is a risky profession. But at least put video surveillance to feel a little bit of a bit protected. This is disciplinary and works,” Zaharieva said.

According to her, the personnel crisis in the system gave birth to a not very smooth medical specialist-patient relationship. "Most colleagues are overworked, not as patient as they should be, but in such conditions we are all patients and workers. It is difficult for everyone," Zaharieva said.

Asked how she would encourage the medics, Zaharieva said that they should not give up because this is a good humane profession. “We know that the medical profession carries a risk. We know the conditions under which work is done, but I strongly hope that the statesmen will understand and make the relevant decisions so as to improve the conditions in the work system, which would also increase the quality of the medical service. Serious healthcare reforms are needed because under these working conditions it is not good for workers or patients," she said.

You can read the post on Zdrave.net via the button below.

Zdrave.net

Cases of aggression are repelled by the medical profession, and especially by work in the emergency room. Serious statesmanship is needed, the feeling of impunity must not progress.

Aggression is not only against Bulgarian medics. Aggression has become a model of behavior and culture in recent times. This requires serious state thinking in many sectors.

This was stated in an interview for BGNES by Galina Zaharieva, Deputy Chairman of the Management Board of the Bulgarian Union of Medical Assistants and Paramedics (BSLAF).

Aggression towards medics in Bulgaria is not a precedent, but a serious problem that has existed in our country for years. Just a week ago, we witnessed another case of aggression when a drunken man attacked the paramedic on duty in the Emergency Medical Aid Branch (EMA) in the building of the Berkovitsa General Hospital.

About what needs to happen in order to prevent such cases in the future, how it explains this aggression towards Bulgarian medics and why it manifests itself, BGNES talked with the Deputy Chairman of BULAF Zaharieva.

“We cannot isolate the doctor’s office from the rest of society,” she said, noting that aggression is ubiquitous, both verbal and physical, and perhaps the feeling of impunity is increasing rather than reducing aggression in society.

Cases of aggression are repelled by the medical profession, and especially by work in the emergency room.

According to her, the medics who work in the emergency services and are on the front line face one of the most unpleasant manifestations of aggression in society.

“When a person is in an emergency, he is also not very adequate. Everyone reacts differently. But anyway, it is part of our daily lives and we have to adapt, we have no other choice," Zaharieva added.

When asked how all this stress affects the medics and whether there is fear in them at work, she replied that it is not a matter of fear, it is rather unpleasant and pushes people away from the profession.

“This is one of the reasons why some of them do not want to work in these jobs,” added BLAF Vice-President.

Serious statesmanship is needed, the feeling of impunity must not progress.

In order to prevent this aggression and to have a lasting improvement of the situation, reforms are required in many sectors of public life, Zaharieva believes.

In particular, she appealed to employers to take measures to secure workplaces – by video surveillance or live security – as the working medics in emergency centres in small towns, especially at night, are alone. This in turn is due to the lack of staff in the system – people in the teams are kept to a minimum and difficult to work with.

“There is one person on shift who works alone and there is a high risk. In general, the medical profession is a risky profession. But at least put video surveillance to make them feel a little bit protected", Zaharieva called, explaining that this acts disciplinary and has been proven to work because when the patient knows they have video surveillance and reacts differently to the situation.

We cannot rely solely on appeals and the conscience of patients - this is the state of society as a whole, added the Vice-President of BULAF.

Punishment is the final stage, Zaharieva believes. She drew attention to the fact that there are regular reports of aggression in the media as early as childhood.

"That is why I say that aggression has become a model of behaviour that requires serious statesmanship in many sectors, both in education and in justice," said the Vice-President of BLAF and called on the media to pay more attention to the prevention of aggression and the upbringing of the young generation.

Zaharieva appealed to the society and to the rulers: “Keep your health professionals, because I was them. Aggression against them will not make things better. We are aware that the personnel crisis in the system is giving rise to a not-so-smooth medical specialist-patient relationship. Most colleagues are overworked, not as patient as they should be, but in such conditions we are all patients and workers. It's hard for everyone.”

Asked what she would say to encourage medics, she urged them not to give up because it's a nice humane profession. “We know that it carries a risk. We know the conditions under which work is done, but I very much hope that the statesmen will understand and make the relevant decisions so as to improve the conditions in the working system, which would also improve the quality of the medical service", said Zaharieva and reiterated that serious reforms in healthcare are needed, because under these working conditions it is not good either for the workers or for the patients.

In conclusion, she added that she strongly hopes that our society will go in a more positive direction and change the pattern of behavior, because we see for ourselves that this does not lead to anything good for anyone. ⁇ BGNES

The publication and video in BGNES can be accessed via the button below.

BGNES

A Memorandum of Cooperation was signed at the National Press Club of BTA by the Bulgarian Union of Medical Assistants and Paramedics (BSLAF) and the University Multiprofile Hospital for Active Treatment (UMHAT) ‘St. Ekaterina’. The document was signed by the Executive Director of the medical institution Prof. Dr. Dimitar Petkov D.Sc. and the Chairman of the Management Board of BSAF Alexander Alexandrov.

With the Memorandum, both parties declare their desire to build a sustainable framework of partnership and cooperation aimed at developing human resources in healthcare, promoting postgraduate and continuing education, the implementation of good medical practices, as well as the implementation of joint initiatives for the benefit of patients and society.

The idea is to be able to benefit from our cooperation in the management of human resources, explained Dimitar Dimitrov, Head of the Registry and Public Relations Department at the University Hospital ‘St. Catherine’. After an analysis in St. Ekaterina’ found that they could bring something new to the organisation, administration of human resources for the benefit of patients. At the same time, the trend in the development of healthcare staff is worrying, we are trying to be able to cope together, Dimitrov added.

We are not just signing a document, but we are laying a solid foundation for a long-term partnership that will be aimed at developing human resources in medicine, promoting postgraduate and continuing education, as well as the implementation of good medical practices in everyday life, commented Prof. Dr. Dimitar Petkov. He recalled that one of the main problems is the shortage of qualified medical staff, so the hospital declares its clear will to fill this deficit by training new staff.

In "St. Ekaterina" has three training rooms, monthly, in order not to disturb the balance of the work of the hospital, can be trained between five-10 people. Currently, the hospital has an acute need for perfusionists (people who take care of the heart-lung machine during cardiac surgery), the Executive Director emphasized.

Alexander Alexandrov, Chairman of BULFA, said that with the signing of this document the ambition of the professional organization is to start training more such staff in the Bulgarian educational institutions so that there is a resource to support the Bulgarian healthcare. We show that when stakeholders work in one direction, in the mutual interest and in the interest of patients, things work out, Alexandrov said. Medical assistants are currently trained at seven universities in Bulgaria and can take part in all areas of healthcare in Bulgaria, added the Chairperson. We are categorical that united together and respecting the place, qualification, responsibility of every medical professional, we could do so so that we can quickly solve the problem of personnel deficit, from which the Bulgarian patient is a winner, said Alexandrov.

The publication and video of BTA can be accessed via the button below.

BTA

Medical assistants and paramedics are well known, but mostly in emergency and outpatient care and there is no tradition of practicing the profession in hospital care facilities. However, there is an interest in such cooperation on both sides, both from our colleagues and from hospitals. This was said by the Deputy Chairman of the Board of BSLAF Galina Zaharieva at a press conference today.

“We analysed the profession globally and found that in other countries, medical assistants are very well positioned in all hospital structures. Our profession is multifunctional and we can position ourselves anywhere", added Zaharieva.

During the press conference, a memorandum of cooperation was signed between the Executive Director of St. Ekaterina University Hospital, Prof. Dr. Dimitar Petkov, and the Chairman of the Board of Directors of BULAF, Alexander Alexandrov.

With the Memorandum, both sides declared their willingness to build a sustainable framework of partnership and cooperation aimed at developing human resources in healthcare, promoting postgraduate and continuing education, implementing good medical practices, as well as implementing joint initiatives for the benefit of patients and society.

After an analysis at the University Hospital ‘St. Ekaterina’ found that medical assistants could help in organising, administering human resources for the benefit of patients.

“We are not just signing a document, but we are laying a solid foundation for a long-term partnership that will focus on developing human resources in medicine, promoting postgraduate and continuing education, and implementing good medical practices in everyday life,” commented Prof. Dimitar Petkov. He recalled that one of the main problems is the shortage of qualified medical staff, so the hospital declares its clear will to fill this deficit by training new staff.

At the University Hospital "St. Ekaterina’ has three training rooms, monthly, in order not to disturb the work balance of the hospital, between 5-10 people can be trained. "At the moment, the hospital is in dire need of perfusionists (people who take care of the heart-lung machine during cardiac surgery)," stressed Prof. Petkov.

Alexander Alexandrov, Chairman of the Bulgarian Medical Association, said that with the signing of this document, the ambition of the professional organization is to start training more medical assistants in Bulgarian schools so that there is a resource to support Bulgarian healthcare. “We show that when stakeholders work in one direction, in the mutual interest and in the interest of patients, things work out,” said Alexandrov.

He added that currently doctors' assistants are trained at 7 universities in Bulgaria and can take part in all areas of healthcare in Bulgaria.

You can read the post on Zdrave.net via the button below.

Zdrave.net