News and Business
At ER24 strong teamwork is a key part of saving lives.
Four of our emergency care professionals explain why good partnerships are so important.
In medical emergencies, time matters. Good teamwork helps ER24 paramedics work faster and provide streamlined care. When partners share expertise, they make better choices about how to treat patients.
ER24 Johannesburg West
Amy Pace, Advanced Life Support
“Emergency medical situations are always fast paced and high pressure. As an emergency care practitioner, I have a great deal of responsibility, so it’s invaluable to have a reliable partner to offload tasks.
“While my partner, Basic Life Support Practitioner (BLS) Ravell Ramsoorooj, does a basic assessment of the patient, I can step back to analyse the electrocardiogram (ECG). This gives me time to make the right treatment decisions, especially if it’s a complicated case.
“As a student, I worked under Ravell while doing my clinical shifts. He created a judgment-free zone where I could learn and grow. He had practical experience, while I brought my clinical knowledge. It’s turned out to be the perfect combination.
“Now that I’m a qualified ALS , our partnership genuinely reduces the stress of the job. I don’t have to monitor what Ravell is doing as I trust him completely. He’s confident in his abilities but also happy to ask questions, and I’m equally comfortable asking him for advice. We constantly learn from each other. As he says, ‘If you’re having a bad day, I can compensate.’
“During a very challenging case of a patient with drug-induced psychosis, Ravell’s protective instincts kicked in, helping us manage the potentially violent situation while I focused on sedating the patient safely. ‘Teamwork makes the dream work’ may be a cliché, but in emergency medicine, it’s true.
“A well-coordinated team means improved patient outcomes – and that’s what this job is all about. Your partner becomes your lifeline, and I couldn’t ask for a better one.”
Ravell Ramsoorooj, Basic Ambulance Assistant
“Working in emergency medical services is both emotionally demanding and physically taxing. But the secret to thriving lies in the strength of partnership and teamwork. After particularly stressful calls, having someone who truly understands what you’ve been through is invaluable.
“Amy and I have a ritual of debriefing before heading home to our families. We share the emotional weight of difficult cases, helping each other process what we’ve seen and done. This simple practice has become my lifeline, preventing burnout in ways I never anticipated.
“We’ve also learned to maintain a sense of humour. The little jokes are our way of staying human amid the chaos. Finding moments of enjoyment during our shifts keeps us balanced and present for our patients.
“We’ve developed our own system, a shorthand that helps us know instinctively who needs to do what in critical situations.
“She has a higher qualification than I do, and we’ve created a balance where we’re constantly learning from each other. Her expertise inspires me daily. I’ve seen firsthand how a good team creates multiple layers of protection for patients. We cross-check medications and procedures, catching potential errors before they affect the patient. Speaking up about safety concerns isn’t just permitted – it’s expected.”
ER24 Potchefstroom
Nick Kennedy, Intermediate Life Support
“I’ve been with ER24 since 2012 and have seen my share of emergencies. But nothing has shaped my career quite like my partnership with Alfred Busika, the BLS medic I’ve worked with for the past seven years. When it’s time to work, there’s no joking around – we focus on getting things done swiftly and efficiently.
“We weren’t always a dream team as we’re both stubborn. But today we understand each other so well that we anticipate each other’s next steps without speaking. Having a strong partner gives you better insights and they might notice something you miss. After all, four eyes see better than two, and four hands can do more than two.
“A recent case involved a middle-aged patient who was already receiving bystander CPR for a suspected heart attack. After attaching the automated external defibrillator (AED), we ran through the entire resuscitation without exchanging a single word. We took turns doing chest compressions, each of us mentally planning our next move while executing the current one. In those critical moments, we weren’t two medics, we were one cohesive unit.
“This synchronicity didn’t happen overnight. It was built through hundreds of calls, mostly medical cases like heart attacks, diabetic emergencies, and falls. With each emergency, we’ve developed what I can only describe as muscle memory. Our responses are automatic; our teamwork is instinctive. We’ve even developed our own internal code and language, although sometimes just a facial expression is enough.
“When we first met, Alfred was very quiet, sizing me up to see what kind of practitioner I was. Now he talks my ear off! Our relationship extends beyond the ambulance – we socialise regularly over a braai and discuss life outside work. He’s evolved from colleague to friend to more like a brother. I would trust him with my life.”
Alfred Busika, Basic Ambulance Assistant
“What I appreciate most about our partnership is the rhythm we’ve developed. We know exactly how each of us works. After attending to a patient, we take a moment to discuss the case – what more could we have done? How might we improve next time? These brief conversations have become invaluable learning opportunities for me.
“Each shift brings a different scenario, which helps me expand my knowledge. Some cases are particularly interesting, challenging me to grow beyond my comfort zone. Nick and I set good examples for each other. We’ve established an unspoken rule: never judge on the scene and never criticise each other in front of patients. Instead, we encourage each other and offer positive criticism at an appropriate time.
“In emergency medicine, you must adapt to different personalities in all lines of duty, and having a trusted partner makes this easier. I’ll admit, I’m stubborn by nature, while Nick is incredibly focused. These traits could clash, but somehow, they complement each other. After a challenging call, we lighten the mood by joking around, though we never lose the professional and personal respect we’ve built.
“Despite our different backgrounds, we have in common that we’re both committed to patient care. In healthcare, especially in emergency settings, the relationship with your teammate can be just as important as your medical training.
“Every day, I’m grateful that we push each other to be better – for our patients, ourselves, and the field of emergency medicine.”