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Issue link: https://emsworld.epubxp.com/i/516933
EMS RESEARCH N ine years ago, in its compre- hensive report on EMS in the United States, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) said, "The prehospital emergency care system provides a stark example of how standards of care and clinical protocols can take root despite an almost total lack of evidence to support their use." 1 The report found that half of EMS inter- ventions lacked an adequate evidence base (or had no evidentiary support at all), com- pared to only 5% that were supported by high- quality evidence. The IOM concluded that as a result, EMS systems in this country often operate "blindly" when addressing issues such as system design, resource deployment and clinical interventions. Since then, many EMS leaders have been advocating for evidence-based clini- cal interventions in the prehospital setting. In 2008, the National Highway Trans- portation Safety Administration convened a meeting of EMS stakeholders to discuss the development of national evidence-based guidelines (EBGs) for EMS. Six years later, the first national evidence-based guidelines were released, including guidelines for pre- hospital pain management, 2 pediatric sei- zures 3 and external hemorrhage control. 4 The overarching goal of the national EBG development process has been to transition to the use of high-quality evidence—rather than consensus or expert opinion—as the basis for clinical guidelines in EMS. 5 Ongo- ing EMS research is critical to developing the evidence base necessary to support the use of both new and existing clinical inter- ventions in the prehospital setting. First Do No Harm One of the guiding maxims for all health- care providers is to "first do no harm." The sad truth, however, is that several clinical interventions employed as standard prac- Why Research Is Important in EMS We need an evidence base, and you can help develop it By Mario J. Weber, JD, MPA, NRP, & Michael Gerber, MPH, NRP Michael Gerber is a featured speaker at EMS World Expo, Sept. 15–19 in Las Vegas. Visit EMSWorldExpo.com. 32 JUNE 2015 | EMSWORLD.com Photo cour tesy Richmond Ambulance Authorit y, R A AEMS.org