Vehicle life and performance. You're in the driver's seat

The emergency vehicle may be the most crucial lifesaving tool in a successful emergency medical services operation, yet many EMS systems fail to prepare employees to properly operate and maintain these vehicles. The price for this oversight is increased maintenance and repair costs and decreased vehicle life and performance. In this discussion, the term "Emergency Vehicle Operator" is used synonymously with the more common, but dated, term "ambulance driver." Improved vehicle operations require teamwork among vehicle purchasers, operators, maintenance staff, management, EMS educators and medical crews. This approach will pay off in a more reliable and cost-effective system, and, ultimately, in higher quality patient care.