What Is A Data Impact Advisor?
Have you ever wanted just to click a button and get to your data? Do you have a burning desire to quickly answer the town administrator’s question with data? Do you want a data analyst on your team, and have you heard of the phrase, “garbage in…garbage out?” Do you know if your data is trustworthy?
These questions plague officers, chief officers, executive directors, and the like in the emergency services sector. Despite the uncertainty, there is hope. We become your data strategist, analyst, and partner at Freedom Hill Consulting.
Data strategy refers to how the sausage gets made. We evaluate your forms to ensure data is accurate and easy to input. Validity rules are developed to guide the staff towards accurate data input.
Finally, we create descriptive statistical reports with all your years of data collection and look for opportunities for improvement. The final product is data that is easily accessible, accurate, and impactful.
Ogunquit (Maine) Fire Department began critically evaluating their data in late 2023. Chief Russ Osgood secured funding for the new Captain's position using their overlapping call volume data and other call volume data. Ogunquit Fire’s call volume, mutual aid requests, and overlapping calls bloom in the summer months.
Their data was compiled and available using a pleasing visual approach to make a compelling case for staff expansion. The impact of the captain’s position prompts the data to trend down in mutual aid call volume.
What can we do for your organization? Please call us to have a conversation about your data needs.
Steep Angles
It all begins with an idea.
When I was younger and a fresh single-family homeowner, I had to replace our deteriorating roof. It was not a big roof, but with my family's limited funds, I turned to my coworkers at the firehouse; isn't that a blessing? They turned out, too!
I harbor minimal skills in the trades. Roofing is certainly not one of my skills. Fortunately, many folks in the fire service have those skills, and I learned a valuable lesson the day my friends helped me.
While walking up the steep roof angle, my "foreman" for the day instructed me to stand more upright. He explained that the steeper the angle, you need to hunch over less. Stand upright, and your traction will improve by transferring the pressure of your weight onto the roof.
The lesson was not lost on a leadership mind. Stand upright while scaling a problematic challenge; you'll gain more traction. Do not hunch over in defeat or nervousness over the steepness of your climb. Stand upright if you're having challenges with an officer or chief officer. You may be in a difficult ethical dilemma in life; stand upright.
My partner and I were witness to an assault of a patient by emergency department staff. It needed to be addressed, and this event was dealt with through the chain of command. However, it was challenging: shunning from ED staff and even questions from a few coworkers. The angle was steep, and the climb frustrating, but my partner and I stood upright, gained traction, and accomplished the right thing.
Leaders need to stand upright with dignity and humility and climb.
-Todd