EMS World Magazine is the most authoritative source in the world for clinical and educational material designed to improve the delivery of prehospital emergency medical care.
Issue link: https://emsworld.epubxp.com/i/516933
PERFORMANCE MEASURES As we move into the future, more concentration needs to be placed on patient outcomes, patient sat- isfaction and transporting patients where they need to go for the best care. With that said, the clock is always going to be a factor in the EMS field. What finally needs to be done is factually coming up with what that response-time standard needs to be. Jay Fitch, PhD, Founding Partner and President, Fitch & Associates Years ago EMS systems were designed with a one- response-time-fits-all approach to 9-1-1 calls. More contemporary research has demonstrated that extraordinarily short response times are only clini- cally required in a small number of call types. Most would agree that solid self-help instructions at dispatch and a quick response by uniformed personnel (fire, law enforcement or volunteer first responders) provide a stabilizing influence for the incident. These may be more important to clinical outcomes on some types of calls than an 8:59 response by the ambulance. Response times have to be engineered, measured and managed to balance the risk to the patient, the care- giver and the community. Not every 9-1-1 request merits a "hot" response from the system. That said, customer satisfaction is part of one of the three elements of the Triple Aim. Patients and fami- lies want their EMS system, including the transport component, to flow smoothly and quickly. In today's instant society, a long wait at any point in the service cycle will be perceived negatively. Some communities have been willing to pay the additional costs of hav- ing short response times but now feel compelled to reassess the implications of those decisions in light of other financial priorities. Stakeholders must be educated that sending the correct type of help, which is able to manage the patient's needs within a rea- sonable time frame, may be more important than considering response times as the primary measure of performance. Pinnacle 2015 will be held at the Omni Amelia Island Plantation Resort, near Jacksonville, FL, August 3-7, 2015. For more see pinnacle-ems.com. In today's instant society, a long wait at any point in the service cycle will be perceived negatively. — Jay Fitch, PhD 50 JUNE 2015 | EMSWORLD.com EMS-Inspired Music Exclusive Games Compelling Books Online shopping made easy at EMSWorld.com/store STORE FIrehouse Exclusives F I r e h o u s e E x EditEd by HarvEy EisnEr C o l l e C t o r ' s e d i t i o n ® Hot sHots Spectacular Fire Photos A FIREHOUSE MAGAZINE SPECIAL COLLECTOR'S EDITION ON THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF 9/11 WTC IN THEIR OWN WORDS A HIGHLY DETAILED IN-DEPTH LOOK AT THE RESPONSE TO THE WORST TERRORIST ATTACK ON AMERICAN SOIL ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2001 Exclusive Interviews with the Firefghters On-The-Scene at the World Trade Center Attack E D I T E D BY H A R V E Y E I S N E R BONUS DVD Fire Line Video's award-winning DVD, "The Battle Continues," captures video and radio traffc during 9-11 WTC attack. Bonus DVD Great Gifts for Dads and Grads! Hot Shots $16.95 $5.95 $ 1 6 9 5 WTC: In Their Own Words $39.95 $19.95 $ 3 9 9 5 I'm Not An Ambulance Driver $13.95 $14.95 $ 1 4 9 5 Paramedico $14.95 $7.95 $ 1 4 9 5 People Care Print $14.95 Digital $4.95 $19.95 $9.95 $ 1 9 9 5 $ 9 9 5 Trivial Pursuit $29.95 $19.95 $ 2 9 9 5 Down Time CD $12.95 $9.95 $ 1 2 9 5 Exclusive items for EMS & Fire professionals Summer Sizzle Sale Summer Sizzle Sale