Evaluation of an EMS algorithm system. American College of Emergency Physicians Algorithm Review Subcommitte

The American College of Emergency Physicians algorithm project was a pilot study designed to identify a method for evaluating algorithms by peer review and field test. The intent of the pilot project was to make recommendations which would permit a more extensive evaluation of the logic, usefulness, and safety of various algorithms. The project yielded a report which summarized the research design and suggests possible revisions to the phases of peer review, algorithm assignment, and field test. It is anticipated that the report will be used by the National Center for Health Services Research in developing a method to carefully assess the various algorithms developed to date prior to their widespread use. Presented here is the executive summary of the report.