Using Benchmark Data as a Launching Point for Quality Improvement in EMS

EMS agencies strive to provide the best possible care and contribute to positive patient outcomes. To ensure a high level of care, many agencies implement quality improvement programs; choosing a place to start for a quality improvement initiative, however, can seem overwhelming, with so many important conditions like cardiac arrest, sepsis, stroke, overdoses, etc. With limited time and resources, it’s necessary to concentrate efforts on measures that matter and are likely to make an impact. A great place to start with quality improvement efforts is where the gold standard is known and the frequency of events isn’t rare. For example, how often does your EMS agency encounter patients experiencing chest pain? And, when the call goes out for a 68-year-old male who’s having trouble breathing and he says that he feels like an elephant is sitting on his chest, what do you expect EMS professionals at your agency to do? Performing a 12-lead ECG is the gold standard for evaluating cardiac ischemia. This key EMS assessment can have a substantial impact on early recognition of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), transport to an appropriate facility, activation of the cath lab, and ultimately a successful patient outcome. National efforts like the American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline have focused on this measure, and achieving at least 75% compliance on this measure is one of the performance metrics to earn this recognition for EMS. Let’s say you’re interest...
Source: JEMS Operations - Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Tags: Exclusive Articles Operations Top Story Source Type: news