Feb 13 2024The Mount Sinai Hospital / Mount Sinai School of Medicine Emergency medical service systems are not consistently providing optimal care based on new national standards of quality to patients who call 911, according to a new study from the Icahn School of Medicine of Mount Sinai.
The study demonstrates that EMS performance on key clinical and patient safety measures varies widely across urban and rural communities. The findings, published in the February 13 issue of Prehospital Emergency Care, identify opportunities that could lead to improved care during 911 responses and improved outcomes for patients across the United States.
EMS systems in the United States have traditionally relied upon operational measures, like response times, to measure performance of the system. However, this study highlights how patient care and experience are not solely determined by how fast an ambulance can arrive at the patient's side.
Related StoriesThe researchers also analyzed performance of all EMS agencies, looking at agency size and location-;urban, suburban, and rural. They discovered substantial differences in agencies that primarily responded in rural communities compared to urban and suburban areas.
"This work is not about blaming bad EMS services, but about uncovering opportunities to improve patient care," Dr. Redlener adds. "We have to move away from solely looking at response times and start looking at performance that directly impacts the people we are meant to treat."Journal reference:Redlener, M., et al. A National Assessment of EMS Performance at the Response and Agency Level. Prehospital Emergency Care. doi.org/10.1080/10903127.2023.2283886.