Similar education should take place each time a standard is changed. Education is used to reinforce proper patient care, update the provider regarding newer treatment modalities and equipment, and remedy perceived deficiencies. Mechanisms should be established to measure the effectiveness of the information given and of the educators themselves. Physician involvement is essential to assure appropriate utilization of skills and equipment. 9 EMS system administrators should constantly evaluate system performance and the level of care delivered.
Information is gathered to assess various components of the system.
This is particularly difficult because of a lack of consistent, reliable, accurate, and uniform data among the different agencies that constitute the system. Data sources may include standardized EMS run reports, dispatch logs, hospital patient records, incident reports, public safety records, testing, and surveys to assess perception and satisfaction. Patient confidentiality should be assured. Data are to be tracked, recorded, and used to identify areas needing improvement. Providers should be congratulated when standards are met or exceeded.