DALLAS—A new digital white paper created by FirstWatch, in partnership with the National EMS Quality Alliance, shows how you can use performance measures to “take the pulse” of your EMS system.
“This is an excellent complement to our implementation guide, Improving Safety in EMS: Reducing the Use of Lights and Siren,” said Sheree Murphy, Executive Director of NEMSQA. “The information is presented in an engaging and comprehensive way to give all EMS leaders and practitioners a practical introduction to the world of performance measures. Many of these leaders demonstrate their commitment to improvement on a national level through NEMSQA, but also in their everyday quality improvement work at the agency and system level.”
The white paper examines various key performance measures – including effectiveness, safety, satisfaction, equity, and efficiency – and provides considerations and best practices for deriving insight from the data.
“Improvement doesn’t need to be complicated,” noted Jeff Jarvis, MD, NEMSQA committee chair for performance measures and an author of the white paper. “How to get started? Adopt the NEMSQA measures, find one where your agency performs below the national benchmark, and get to work.”
Through case studies, interviews, and articles, “Taking the Pulse of Your System” includes:
• How to define “good” performance
• Important metrics to monitor
• Tips for benchmarking and comparing your performance to similar agencies
• Visualizing and presenting performance data objectively
• Identifying areas for improvement
• Creating improvement plans
• Monitoring progress
• Case studies from agencies that have used these principles to improve performance
• Relevant NEMSQA performance measures
The white paper includes case studies from Mount Sinai (New York City) on how that system improved effective airway monitoring; how Albuquerque Ambulance Service discovered and addressed narcotic wasting discrepancies; and how St. Luke’s (Pa.) University Health Network used longitudinal and regional data to improve ketamine and etomidate administration for sedation and airway management during behavioral emergencies.
“Developing measures for EMS are truly about improving the quality and safety for the care of patients,” said Michael Redlener, MD, President of NEMSQA and the Director for the Mount Sinai Division of EMS and Disaster Preparedness. He also serves as Mount Sinai’s Medical Director for EMS Quality.
“Our work at NEMSQA enables the types of improvement that need to happen at the local level,” he added. “I am proud to highlight the incredible work of our team at Mount Sinai that makes data-driven improvement an everyday event.”
“Modern EMS systems are swimming in a sea of data,” said Mike Taigman, Improvement Guide at FirstWatch and editor of the white paper. “While all EMS systems intend to provide high-quality clinical care and service to all patients, most discover gaps between the care they intend to provide and what they actually provide when they measure their performance. Tracking the NEMSQA measures helps highlight specific improvement opportunities. We love partnering with them on this important topic.”
Readers can download the complimentary white paper here.
About NEMSQA
The National EMS Quality Alliance (NEMSQA) is the nation's leader in the development and endorsement of evidence-based quality measures for EMS. Formed in 2019, NEMSQA is an independent non-profit organization comprised of stakeholders from national EMS organizations, federal agencies, corporate partners, EMS agencies, and individual EMS system leaders, providers, quality improvement and data experts. They all support prehospital care with the goal to improve EMS systems of care, patient outcomes, provider safety and well-being on a national level. Measures and additional information are available at www.nemsqa.org.
About FirstWatch
Now in its 26th year, FirstWatch helps public safety and healthcare professionals serve their communities through the use of data and the science of performance improvement. Drawing on deep experience in emergency services, the FirstWatch team uses software and personalized solutions for over 500 communities across North America. FirstWatch is a proud sponsor of NEMSQA.
