Developing EMS quality assessment indicators.

Abstract

An emergency medical service (EMS) system is part of a broad health care system which no longer can be concerned exclusively with patient transportation. Integration of prehospital and in-hospital emergency care must be achieved to provide quality patient care. This article suggests modifications in the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organization's (JCAHO) 10-Step Model indicators that should help in an evaluation of the issues associated with the diversion of patients from Emergency Departments. The JCAHO model is one that can be used to help integrate prehospital and inhospital care.