COVID-19 Town Hall: Quality Improvement in EMS in the COVID-19 Era

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Key take-aways

• Data is meaningless until one can turn it into useful information and put it into context, and that context is often provided in the form of control charts.  (See the links in our Follow-up Forum for online resources to make your own control charts!)
• One doesn’t necessarily need a Ph.D. to turn data into information, but educating oneself to the fundamentals of Information Science will be important to avoid early frustration.  Great resource books and courses are on our Follow-up Forum.
• Data points must be defined. These definitions don’t have to be perfect, but they must be consistent in order to make meaningful comparisons.
• Avoid the urge to make sweeping changes in your system. Enact and examine small tests of change first.
• COVID-19 surveillance has demonstrated that QA and CQI principles can help drive clinical protocols, but can also sustain Human Resources priorities by illustrating PPE utilization and effectiveness.
• A QA program needs more than just “buy-in” from administrators. It needs support. Win that support by finding out what is important to your leadership and demonstrate your value by being the source of actionable intelligence that would help them with their responsibilities.