Implementation of EMS Clinician Feedback Tool Encourages Patient Feedback Requests and Professional Development: A...

Area of Science:

• Emergency Medicine
• Health Services Research
• Clinical Informatics

Background:

• Emergency medical services (EMS) clinicians report dissatisfaction with current clinical feedback processes.
• A lack of standardized feedback hinders professional learning and improvement in patient care.
• This study evaluates a novel feedback tool implemented within an academic medical center's emergency department.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the utilization of a new feedback tool by EMS clinicians.
• To determine the perceived impact of the feedback tool on EMS clinicians and the health system.
• To identify key themes related to the tool's design, utility, and barriers to use.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods study design was employed.
• Quantitative data included patient characteristics and feedback tool usage patterns.
• Qualitative data involved semi-structured interviews with EMS clinicians, analyzed using thematic analysis.

Main Results:

• The feedback tool was utilized for 381 requests, with a majority concerning high-acuity patients (Emergency Severity Index score ≥2).
• Traumatic, neurologic, and cardiac complaints were the most frequent reasons for feedback requests.
• Email was the preferred communication method (93.7%), with an average of 35 requests per month.

Conclusions:

• The standardized feedback mechanism demonstrated engagement, particularly among ground EMS providers for high-acuity cases.
• Clinicians perceived the tool as accessible, user-friendly, and crucial for professional development and improved patient care.
• The findings underscore the importance of efficient communication channels and user-centered design in feedback systems for EMS.