Arrogance

     What do you do? You work with a good bunch of people, but you're concerned about one of your young paramedics. She's really bright, but she seems to enjoy embarrassing people in front of their peers, and you in front of your subordinates. She's funny enough to get a group laughing pretty much anytime she wants to, and there's usually a bite in her humor. Aside from running calls, she's kind of a non-productive member of your organization.

     She doesn't break a lot of written rules, but she makes it clear she doesn't have much respect for them, either. She doesn't clean toilets, and she doesn't check her ambulance. People generally respect her medicine, but otherwise her impact on your organization is not positive. You're concerned about the amount of gossiping that goes on in the day room, and you're pretty sure she owns a big part of that. You've confronted her honestly and privately about her attitude. She responded by whining publicly about your concerns, and whimpering that "management" is about to fire her.

     Answer: The Japanese word sayonara comes to mind. No one should be forced to belong to a team they don't respect.

     Talent is a rare and special finding. But it's a gift, not an achievement. Compared to the accomplishments of more ordinary people who care about their work, talent is certainly no basis for entitlement. As Ben Franklin once said, a man wrapped up in himself makes a very small bundle.

     You don't have to tolerate a team member who's not a team player. All of the issues identified in the first two paragraphs of this article are performance indicators that can be clearly documented in routine performance reviews. Vehicle checks and station maintenance are essential operational pursuits, mentioned in the terms of most EMS position descriptions, and they directly impact the safety of others. Chances are, you already have the documentation you need to initiate progressive discipline.

     Talent or no talent, the rest of us have to work for a living.

Thom Dick has been involved in EMS for 38 years, 23 of them as a full-time EMT and paramedic in San Diego County. He is the quality care coordinator for Platte Valley Ambulance Service, a community-owned, hospital-based 9-1-1 provider in Brighton, CO. Thom is also a member of EMS Magazine's editorial advisory board. Reach him at boxcar_414@yahoo.com.