HOME EMS AWARDS
CONFERENCE		 GOLD STARS
IN MEMORIAM		 STREMAC
COMMITTEES		 POLICIES &
PROTOCOLS		 MEETINGS
MINUTES		 LINKS
SITE MAP		 ABOUT
STREMS

Southern Tier Regional Emergency Medical Services Council

Quality Improvement Committee

Bernadette Josbeno-Oakes, Chairperson
Robert Rajsky, Vice Chairperson
Rick Churches
Dr. William Huffner
Bill Kennedy
Ann Repsher
Teri Symonds
Maryann Teeter
Pam Palmer
Linda Donley
Megan Read
Sabrina Neal
Vanessa Jewett		 Bernadette Josbeno-Oakes
Bernadette Josbeno-Oakes
Chairperson		 Bob Rajsky
Bob Rajsky
Vice Chairperson

QIPP Awards

REGIONAL QUALITY IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE GOALS for 2010
Monitor existing programs for EMS evaluations, which are valid and reliable.
  • Present data to the regional medical advisory committee and to participate in system-wide (quality improvement) evaluation.
  • Periodically review information concerning compliance with standard of care procedures and protocols, grievance filed with the service by patients or their families, and the occurrence of incidents injurious or potentially injurious to patients.
  • Systematic evaluation of case reviews by area coordinators, committee and medical directors. Focus studies of specific diagnoses, identified concerns or other areas of interest.
Promote agency level evaluation process, including First Response, which includes physician collaboration.
  • Area QI coordinators report summarizes data to regional committee report then presented to STREMAC and agency medical directors with feed back to the specific agencies.
Teach and promote the quality improvement process and principles as a means of addressing EMS systems and data collection needs. Identify at least one educational focus area to improve pre-hospital EMS program. Coordinate with Training Committee and staff to plan and implement the program.
  • Regional program to be fully inserviced to area coordinators. Quality improvement process education will be part of new training and updates.
  • 2010 Focus: Controlled substances (attached).
Adopt the New York State Department of Health Quality Improvement Manual, with the addition of the Regional QI schedule and forms. Review annually for changes or updates.
Monitor Quality Improvement involvement for all agencies and recommend QI awards based on criteria.
  • Promote EMS Awards on-line based on positive and outstanding performance evident in quality improvement audit.
Promote regionalr achievements of past 10 years by Regional Quality Improvement with presentation at Regional and State conferences.

2009-2010 CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE REVIEW
STREMS COUNCIL REGIONAL QUALITY IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE
Background Within the region, two controlled substances are utilized: morphine and diazepam. Though some ALS agencies may be doing quality improvement on their administrations, there is no regional QI process.
Method The Regional Quality Improvement Committee on the Southern Tier EMS Council agreed to study three aspects of controlled substances:
  1. Vital signs prior to administration
  2. Appropriate administration of drug
  3. Vital signs within five minutes after administration
Process Each Area QI Coordinator will screen PCRs for controlled substance administration. Findings from the area coordinators will be reported at the Regional QI meeting and ultimately to the Southern Tier Regional Medical Advisory Committee (STREMAC).
Length
of Study		 The study is slated to run for one year.
Responsibilities
from STREMS QI Manual:
  1. Present quality improvement data to the regional emergency medical advisory committee.
  2. Receive and review data from the Area Quality Improvement Committee and to recommend to the Council changes in administrative policies and procedures.
  3. Notify the Council of significant issues related to the provision of quality prehospital care.
  4. Receive and review from the Area Quality Improvement Committee reports on provider credentialing and performance.
  5. Receive and review reports from the Area Quality Improvement Committee on:
    1. Quality of care
    2. Compliance with standard of care procedures and protocols.
  6. Establish and/or provide continuing education programs to address areas in which compliance with procedures and protocols need to be improved.
  7. Periodically evaluate system's Quality Improvement Program.
ARTICLE 30 responsibilities
  1. to review the care rendered by the service, as documented in prehospital care reports and other materials. The committee shall have the authority to use such information to review and to recommend to the governing body changes in administrative policies and procedures, as may be necessary, and shall notify the governing body of significant deficiencies;
  2. to periodically review the credentials and performance of all persons providing emergency medical care on behalf of the service;
  3. to periodically review information concerning compliance with standard of care procedures and protocols, grievances filed with the service by patients or their families, and the occurrence of incidents injurious or potentially injurious to patients. A quality improvement program shall also include participation in the department's prehospital care reporting system and the provision of continuing education programs to address areas in which compliance with procedures and protocols is most deficient and to inform personnel of changes in procedures and protocols. Continuing education programs may be provided by the service itself or by other organizations; and
  4. to present data to the regional medical advisory committee and to participate in system-wide evaluation.

Sample Quality Improvement Forms
Quality Improvement PCR Audit PCR Audit Tool EMD QI Audit Tool
EMD QI Disposition Case Review Evaluation Agency Report to Area QI Committee (2 pages)
Area QI Report to Regional QI (2 pages)