Perceptions and Use of Automated Hospital Outcome Data by EMS Providers: A Pilot Study

Area of Science:

• Emergency Medical Services
• Healthcare Quality Improvement
• Medical Education

Background:

• Automated hospital outcome data review is a critical component of quality improvement in emergency medical services (EMS).
• Understanding EMS provider perceptions of outcome data review is essential for optimizing its implementation.
• Microlearning strategies, including continuing education (CE), can enhance engagement with quality improvement initiatives.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate emergency medical service (EMS) providers' perceptions of reviewing automated hospital outcome data.
• To assess the role of participation in outcome review as a microlearning tool for obtaining continuing education (CE).

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods approach was employed, involving pre- and post-surveys administered to EMS providers (emergency medical technicians and paramedics) across three EMS systems.
• An intervention was designed to offer Commission on Accreditation for Pre-Hospital Continuing Education (CAPCE)-approved CE hours for completing outcome reviews and associated microlearning modules.
• Qualitative analysis of open-ended responses and quantitative analysis of survey data were used to evaluate provider perceptions and participation.

Main Results:

• A significant majority of EMS providers viewed reviewing outcomes as crucial for improving clinical knowledge (95%), patient care (94%), and understanding treatment impact (93%).
• Nearly all providers (91%) indicated increased likelihood to review outcomes if CE was awarded.
• Provider agreement that outcome review enhances job satisfaction increased from 89% to 95% (P=.05) post-intervention.

Conclusions:

• EMS providers strongly support reviewing patient outcomes for personal and professional growth, and to improve patient care.
• The integration of continuing education (CE) into outcome review processes appears to be a key motivator for provider engagement.
• Further research is recommended to explore the generalizability of these findings and optimize the user experience for outcome review systems.