Evaluating state capacity to collect and analyze emergency medical services data.
Prehosp Emerg Care
; 10(1): 14-20, 2006.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-16418086
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Centralized emergency medical services (EMS) data collection is critical to evaluating EMS system effectiveness, yet a general lack of EMS data persists at local, state, and national levels.OBJECTIVE:
To assess state capacity to collect, analyze, and utilize EMS data.METHODS:
Information was gathered through state site visits and surveys from 54 states and U.S. territories in spring 2003 regarding EMS data-collection systems. Survey results were used to create 11 broad indicators that assess state data system infrastructure, collection methods, compliance with data standards, and data uses.RESULTS:
States and territories on average met 59% of the EMS data system indicators, with four states meeting all 11 indicators and two states meeting none. Seventy-six percent of the states reported having state-level EMS data-collection systems, and 78% reported having authority to collect EMS data. However, most state EMS data sets were not capturing information on all EMS incidents, and only 46% of the states had data dictionaries containing at least three-fourths of nationally recommended EMS data elements. In addition, only 33% of the states had linked EMS data with other health data sets to analyze EMS system operations and patient outcomes.CONCLUSION:
While EMS data systems exist in the majority of states, continued attention and resources are needed for state-level EMS data system development to improve capacity for evaluation of emergency medical services.
Buscar no Google
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Governo Estadual
/
Coleta de Dados
/
Serviços Médicos de Emergência
Tipo de estudo:
Evaluation_studies
Limite:
Humans
País/Região como assunto:
America do norte
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2006
Tipo de documento:
Article