Emergency Medical Services Systems Issues: A Delphi Study

1992 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-56
Author(s):  
Jonathan Chin ◽  
Mark E. Schario

AbstractA Delphi survey was conducted to determine the current and future issues facing emergency medical services systems. The information provided by this study can be used by individuals involved in emergency medical services systems for strategic planning and evaluation. The issues identified are categorized and listed by priority. A tiered priority model is utilized to represent the interrelations between these issues. Economics, leadership, research, and human resources are the foremost issues identified in this study. Further detailed analysis and refinement of these issues is recommended for local application. Emergency medical services systems need information to drive the decision-making process.

Author(s):  
Michael A. Rosen ◽  
Ian Coffman ◽  
Aaron Dietz ◽  
P. Daniel Patterson ◽  
Julius Cuong-Pham

2016 ◽  
Vol 35 (6) ◽  
pp. 348-351 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sabina Fattah ◽  
Anne Siri Johnsen ◽  
Stephen J.M. Sollid ◽  
Torben Wisborg ◽  
Marius Rehn ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Frank L. Brown ◽  
Sharon L. Connelly

In accordance with the 1973 Emergency Medical Services Systems Act in the United States, one of the 15 functions to be performed by every EMS (Emergency Medical Services) system is disaster planning. The predicate of success in remediating such a macrosystem challenge as regional disaster planning requires the consensus of multidisciplinary health care and public safety human resources prior to the effective cataloging of physical resources. As the emergency physician is the medical leader of EMS system design and implementation, it is important that he explore newly developing disaster planning methodologies to facilitate consensus disaster planning.


CJEM ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 220-229
Author(s):  
Jan L. Jensen ◽  
Andrew H. Travers

AbstractNationally, emphasis on the importance of evidence-based practice (EBP) in emergency medicine and emergency medical services (EMS) has continuously increased. However, meaningful incorporation of effective and sustainable EBP into clinical and administrative decision-making remains a challenge. We propose a vision for EBP in EMS: Canadian EMS clinicians and leaders will understand and use the best available evidence for clinical and administrative decision-making, to improve patient health outcomes, the capability and quality of EMS systems of care, and safety of patients and EMS professionals. This vision can be implemented with the use of a structure, process, system, and outcome taxonomy to identify current barriers to true EBP, to recognize the opportunities that exist, and propose corresponding recommended strategies for local EMS agencies and at the national level. Framing local and national discussions with this approach will be useful for developing a cohesive and collaborative Canadian EBP strategy.


2019 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Talal AlShammari ◽  
Paul Jennings ◽  
Brett Williams

IntroductionThe emergency medical services (EMS) education in Saudi Arabia has evolved considerably during the past decade and this rapid improvement has seen a disparity of educational approaches. Therefore, a core competency framework which aligns with the requirements of Saudi EMS education should be identified and accommodated. The aim of this study was to obtain professional group consensus on the desirable core competencies for EMS Bachelor degree graduates in Saudi Arabia in order to develop a core competency framework for Saudi Arabian EMS.MethodsA two-round Delphi method using a quantitative survey with a purposeful sampling technique of expert information-rich participants was used. The instrument comprised 40 core competency statements (rated on a 1-10 Likert scale, with 1 being ‘not important at all’ and 10 being ‘extremely important’) and an open-ended question. An international systematic scoping review and local national review informed the items in this study.ResultsAt the end of the second round, the response rate was 70%, and the sample demonstrated diversity in terms of qualifications, expertise and discipline. All core competencies achieved a majority and stability in the first and second rounds. Core competency items achieved the 75% consensus requirement.ConclusionThis study provided consensus on 41 core competencies specific to Saudi EMS industry requirements. However, the findings do not represent a definitive blueprint model for alignment into EMS curricula. Further research and statistical modelling for the core competencies are highly recommended.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S499-S499
Author(s):  
Deborah P Waldrop ◽  
Jacqueline M McGinley ◽  
Brian M Clemency

Abstract Emergency medical services (EMS) providers respond more frequently to calls for older adults with serious illness than for people in other age groups. Recent legislation that makes it possible to document healthcare decisions has facilitated an era of choice in end-of-life care. EMS teams make time-sensitive decisions about care, resuscitation and hospital transport that influence how and where a seriously ill older adult will die and how his/her family will experience the death. Yet, EMS providers’ perspectives on urgent decision-making and how they work with families are unknown. The purpose of this study was to explore the decision-making process that occurs how EMS teams respond when someone is dying from a serious illness (vs. an injury). In-depth in-person interviews were conducted with 50 EMS providers (24 emergency medical technicians [EMTs] and 26 Paramedics) from four ambulance services. Participants’ ages ranged from 21-57 (M=37.9) and 70% were male. Qualitative data was coded using Atlas.ti software. Three themes illuminated participants’ experiences with end-of-life calls: (1) How legally binding documents (e.g. Do Not Resuscitate [DNR] orders, Medical Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment [MOLST]) inform care; (2) Decision-making about foregoing or halting resuscitation (e.g. no hospitalization, death at home); and (3) Family care, support and education. The results suggest that EMS providers have critically important roles in upholding the wishes of seriously ill older adults and helping caregiving families through the end-of-life transition. Implications: Discussions about the meaning of legally binding documents (e.g. DNR, MOLST) and EMS calls are important in advance care planning.


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