Trauma-Specific Performance Improvement Activities for Emergency Medical Services Providers: A Statewide Perspective.

Area of Science:

• Emergency Medicine
• Public Health
• Healthcare Quality Improvement

Background:

• Trauma-specific performance improvement (PI) activities are crucial for enhancing Emergency Medical Services (EMS) provider effectiveness.
• Significant variability exists in the implementation and perception of these PI activities among EMS agencies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the perception of trauma-specific PI activities among EMS providers in Ohio.
• To identify barriers hindering the successful execution of trauma PI programs within EMS agencies.

Main Methods:

• A voluntary, anonymous survey was distributed to EMS agencies across all 88 counties in Ohio.
• Data collection included closed-ended and open-ended survey questions, followed by interviews.
• Descriptive and thematic analyses were employed to analyze the collected data.

Main Results:

• While 98.5% of respondents agreed that trauma PI improves performance, only 63.8% of agencies actively conducted these activities.
• Commonly performed trauma PI activities included record keeping, triage protocol confirmation, and response time measurement.
• Primary barriers identified were lack of interest, financial resources, inadequate training centers, and insufficient regional/state support.

Conclusions:

• Variability in trauma PI perception and execution necessitates state and regional-level interventions.
• Collaboration between EMS agencies, trauma centers, and state initiatives can mitigate common barriers.
• Addressing these inconsistencies is vital for improving trauma PI programs, especially given the rise in mass casualty events.