Optimizing the Relationship between ASU EMS and the Tempe Fire Department

This thesis examines the relationship and cooperation between Arizona State University Emergency Medical Services (ASU EMS) and local emergency services, such as the Tempe Fire Department, focusing on enhancing collaboration and trust-building within the prehospital care context. ASU EMS, primarily a standby service at university events, relies closely on the Tempe Fire Department for the transportation of patients. The fire department, conversely, is aided when ASU EMS is able to treat and prepare patients before transportation for an expedited arrival to more advanced care at a hospital. There is a significant opportunity to be built upon from improving the relationship and connections between these two organizations, through utilizing shared trainings in order to familiarize one another with operational strategies and potential wisdom about various aspects of patient care. The thesis will apply Bolman & Deal's four-frame model—structural, human resource, political, and symbolic—to dissect and propose improvements to inter-organizational relationships and practices. The structural frame will examine the logistical aspects of coordination between agencies, while the human resource frame will consider the development of mutual respect and effective communication strategies. The political frame will analyze the power dynamics and competition for resources, and the symbolic frame will address the shared values and culture that underpin successful collaboration. The study also draws on experiences from ASU EMS staff, the National Collegiate Emergency Medical Services Foundation (NCEMSF), and research from the National Association of State Emergency Medical Services Officials (NASEMSO). Together, this analysis offers a multifaceted approach to strengthening the bonds between collegiate and municipal emergency medical service (EMS) providers for the betterment of the community and patient care in Tempe, Arizona.