I represented the fire service and firefighters as one of three first responder panelists for the ECHO Public Safety Personnel (PSP) and ECHO Occupational and Environmental Medicine (OEM) session held today. The panel first responders answered questions put to us for a group of about 62 clinicians (therapists, social workers, psychologists) to help in providing insight to them on better ways to service their first responder clients.
The three questions that were presented to the panel were:
1. What were the struggles you faced in being able to engage in care (i.e. finding the right kind of therapist, overcoming fear, stigma, shame)? If you had one suggestion for change that would facilitate others access to care, what would you suggest?
2. Were there any characteristics or tools that were used by your care providers that were helpful in being able to engage effectively in care? (suggestions – flexibility virtual/in-person, frequency of treatment, structured versus unstructured treatment, cultural competency of provider, characteristics of the provider)
3. If you could give one piece of advice to healthcare providers who are working with First Responders, what would that be?