Aladtec Unveils Integration Of Workforce Management Software With Firehouse’s Records Management Software

Fire and EMS agencies that use Aladtec scheduling and workforce management software and Firehouse records management software can now save time and keystrokes with a new integration.

With the new integration, the Aladtec schedule automatically populates Firehouse Software’ daily rosters, thereby eliminating the mundane, error-prone task of duplicating roster data. When schedules change, Aladtec seamlessly updates the daily roster.

Workforce scheduling and management

The Crystal Lake (IL) Fire Department has used Aladtec for its scheduling since 2013

The Crystal Lake (IL) Fire Department has used Aladtec for its scheduling since 2013, but all records for training, inspections, and NFIRS reside in the ESO Firehouse database.

Crystal Lake (IL) Fire Department Chief, William (Bill) Whyte said “Crystal Lake's 69 members, including 15 paramedics per shift, answer about 17 calls daily from three stations serving 56,000 people and about 51 square miles.”

Fire Department staff scheduling

Whyte wasn't doing reports when he started as a blue-shirt back in 1996, but record-keeping then was exactly like a scene from the firefighting drama-thriller movie ‘Backdraft’.

Whyte said, "They talk about a book, where they write down the calls. When I started, we were practically right there. It was a logbook - graph paper, time, and where we went. The lieutenant would write in it every day."

"I've been involved in keeping records for the last 17 years, I can tell you, we went from growing that, into more of a paper form, and it’s come a long way. There's still ways to go, but yes it's changed tremendously," adds Whyte.

Aladtec integration

The Aladtec integration simplifies having to add the people every time a fire personal goes on a call, on every rig. So now when they pick up to add the personnel, it's already there.

"Whether it's a simple burning complaint to a structure fire, all of our calls go through the exact same process," Whyte explained.

Tracking of emergency calls

On a structure fire, it's usually the first-arriving officer who's in charge of starting the report"

He adds, "The people responding to the call - if it's an ambulance crew, then the senior paramedic is the one in charge, and he'd be the one responsible for starting and completing the initial report. On a structure fire, it's usually the first-arriving officer who's in charge of starting the report.”

"Once that is done, the company's officer is responsible for reviewing that report. Then me, as battalion chief, I review all of my reports as a shift commander in charge of 20 people at the end of my shift. And me, being in charge of the statistics and all that stuff, once a month, I review the entire month again, then I go through the process of creating the file to send to the state," said Whyte.

He further added, "The good thing, it changes because we have multiple people who change at different times of day for different reasons, so all that movement is captured in the roster because it goes along with the (Aladtec scheduling) program. It does save a lot of time and is more consistent in the documentation, because guys make mistakes all the time.”

Records keeping in the database

“It's one thing for a simple ambulance call in the same house, but sometimes on a structure fire, they don't always remember whose on this engine, because they're not in the same house. The bigger the call, the more vehicles, the more efficient they become in doing the report. It makes it quicker and more accurate," Whyte said.

Harrisburg (NC) Fire Department has used Aladtec for its scheduling since 2015 for records keeping of trainings, inspections, and NFIRS reside in the Firehouse Software database.

Harrisburg Fire Department Battalion Chief Tim Wooten said “Harrisburg's 42 members work three shifts from three stations, responding to 2,546 incidents last year - about 56 percent of which were medical calls. They cover an area of about 32 square miles and 20,000 people, just north of Charlotte. Each shift is led by a battalion chief, overseeing captains, engineers, and firefighters.”

Software integration

Previous to importing the integration, the reporting officer would need to identify each individual and which apparatus they rode. "This could be somewhat time-consuming with the amount of swaps, trades, and transfers we do as a small department," said Wooten, adding "We had groups set up, but with our frequent changes, those groups only worked some of the time."

For the ease of entering the proper personnel in an accurate and timely manner, it has been a great addition"

Wooten estimates the integration saves a few minutes on each report completed. He said, "However, for the ease of entering the proper personnel in an accurate and timely manner, it has been a great addition. We were seeing some errors with all our personnel changes, and users were just not checking to assure the correct people were listed. Firing up the integration wasn't tough.”

Firehouse and Aladtec collaboration

Tim Wooten concludes, "I would suggest that the user have a good understanding of the Specific IDs and how those relate to the individuals in Firehouse and Aladtec. Also, the process of our setup was made easier as we had our truck schedules built already in Firehouse."

Aladtec will announce new integrations soon. They provide online scheduling and workforce management software for mission-critical agencies such as EMS, fire service, law enforcement, and dispatch.

The online workforce management smart platform puts real-time staff scheduling, time and attendance tools, in the palm of your hand. It tracks licensing and certifications, offers customizable forms and reporting, and allows leaders and members to communicate instantly, saving time and money.