René Fleischer on emergency services and leadership

Insights into a modern emergency medical service

„Is your position as managing director as exciting as the emergency services?“

There were moments in the emergency services when my knees were shaking. Of course, you become calmer with years of professional experience. For a managing director, budget responsibility is exciting. It's a different challenge now, but it's just as interesting and just as much fun as working in the emergency services. What has changed during your time with the Maltese, and what has stayed the same? When I started working for Malteser in Saxony in 1993, I was employee number 13 – numbers were assigned consecutively. I am currently responsible for around 860 full-time employees and trainees. That's quite a leap forward and a big change. A lot has also changed technically. To be honest, when I decided to join Malteser, it was human values and, above all, the engaging manner of the managing director at the time that convinced me, not a modern fleet of vehicles or new buildings. Fortunately, the social component has remained the same. My team is still just as important. Even though I may now be at the top of the organisational chart, without my team my job would not be possible.

„In your opinion, what makes the Maltese particularly special?“

I am proud of how we treat each other. I associate the history of the Maltese with a focus on the people entrusted to our care. We see people as a whole. We are there when people take their first breath and also when people take their last. And in between, there is so much life, so many individual situations. Emergency medical services are not just about saving lives, but also about everything that happens before that. What makes us special is that this attitude has a history dating back 900 years.

„Was sehen Sie als größte Herausforderungen des Rettungswesens in Ihrer Region?“

Niemand kann vorhersehen, wie die Dinge sich entwickeln werden und welche Auswirkungen politische Entscheidungen auf den Rettungsdienst haben werden. Wenn beispielsweise mehr Krankenhäuser schließen, erweitern sich natürlich auch die Fahrtstrecken eines Rettungswagens. Das wiederum führt im nächsten Schritt dazu, dass die Fahrzeugbemessungsgrundlagen sich verändern. Das heißt also, man muss die Vorhaltezeiten im RTW-Bereich erhöhen, braucht Stellplätze für die Fahrzeuge und auch die Leute, die die Einsätze fahren – kurz gesagt: Planungssicherheit ist ein Thema, aber mit technischem Fortschritt wie beispielsweise der Telemedizin haben wir Möglichkeiten, zu reagieren. Bei diesen Herausforderungen kann uns die WAS als Hersteller unterstützen.