Making the Most Out of EMS Performance Measures

Although many agencies have begun measuring performance, few have truly figured out how to use that data to make improvements. They struggle deciding which measures matter, interpreting the numbers and figuring out ways to improve. The process can at times be overwhelming. If you feel that way, the good news is that you're not alone. There are agencies out there that have used their data to support improvement efforts that are making a difference in patients' lives. Decide What to Measure One of the very first steps is to decide what to measure. It might be that you know there's a specific area of care you'd like to focus on, either because it's a high-risk event, such as airway management; other times, partnering with a hospital ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) or stroke team might lead you to start in those areas. Measures, however, should be chosen carefully. They should be evidence-based and as patient-centered as possible. That's where the EMS Compass initiative will help-experts in EMS and measurement, along with a wide range of EMS stakeholders, are coming together to ensure that the EMS Compass measures meet those criteria. But your agency still may want to choose which measures to focus on first, and there may be times when other measures are still appropriate. In some cases, measures will help determine what areas you want to focus your improvement efforts on. In other cases, implementing a new program might then influence what you want to measure. Either ...
Source: JEMS Administration and Leadership - Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Tags: Operations Documentation & Patient Care Reporting Source Type: news