What is Performance Improvement? Performance Improvement measures the output of a particular business process or procedure, then modifies the process or procedure to increase the output, increase efficiency, improve safety or increase the effectiveness of the process or procedure.
What is TEMS’ Role in Performance Improvement?
TEMS provides committee meetings for STEMI, Stroke, Trauma and PI which allows agencies across the region to discuss best practices and help determine what steps are next with our patient care and provider wellness. A laid-out plan of each of these committees is reviewed tri-annually and can be found here:
Performance Improvement Committee
STEMI PI Committee
Stroke PI Committee
Trauma PI Committee
How Does Performance Improvement Help?
- Improving quality, consistency and customer satisfaction in EMS systems
- Providing a way that EMS systems can define and improve what they do
- Supporting strategies to improve staffing patterns, education, and reimbursement
- Assisting EMS to define, measure and analyze their system of care
- Improving patient and provider safety
How Are Our Goals Determined?
For STEMI plans, mission lifeline tracks the effectiveness of each agency. The state has guidelines to follow for stroke and trauma:
Mission Lifeline
State Stroke Triage Plan
State Trauma Triage Plan
View Regional Docs Like ‘What Makes Up the TEMS Region’ and ‘Hospital Capability’: Below:
What should I do if I have Performance Improvement suggestions?
Code of Virginia
- 32.1-111.11 (Regional EMS Councils); 21.1-111.3 (Statewide Emergency Medical Services Plans); 32.1-111.4:1 (Statewide EMS Sytem and Services); 32.1-116.1:1 (Disclosure of Medical Records); 32.1-116.2 (Confidential Nature of Information); 32.1-12 (Regulation); 8.01-581.16 (Civil Immunity for Committee Members); 8.01-581.17 (Privileged Communication); 8.01-581.19 (Civil Immunity for EMS Providers)
EMS State Law – 12 Virginia Administration Code
- 5-31-390 (Destination Trauma Triage); 5-31-600 (Quality Management Reporting); 5-31-610 (Designated Emergency Response Agency Standards)
Federal Law – Department of Health and Human Services
- 45 CFR 164.501 (Definitions); 45 CFR 164.506 (Disclosures); 45 CFR 164.520 (Notice of Privacy Practice)
Additional Resources
Virginia State Strategic and Operational Plan
National Association of EMS Physicians
Patient Safety Quality Improvement