Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40221686›Full record

ArticleBMC emergency medicine2025

Assessment of ambulance interventions; proposal of a performance measurement framework for healthcare improvement in EMS response to patient collapse.

Kamran Idris, Zainab Mubeen, Zeeshan Noor Shaikh, Aswad Latif, Shaheryar Hasan, Arshia Khan

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC emergency medicine, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Trial
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Kamran IdrisDepartment of Research, Development and Education, Sindh Integrated Emergency and Health Services, Karachi, Pakistan.
Zainab MubeenDepartment of Research, Development and Education, Sindh Integrated Emergency and Health Services, Karachi, Pakistan. zainab.mubeen@siehs.org.
Zeeshan Noor ShaikhDepartment of Research, Development and Education, Sindh Integrated Emergency and Health Services, Karachi, Pakistan.
Aswad LatifDepartment of Research, Development and Education, Sindh Integrated Emergency and Health Services, Karachi, Pakistan.
Shaheryar HasanDepartment of Research, Development and Education, Sindh Integrated Emergency and Health Services, Karachi, Pakistan.
Arshia KhanDepartment of Research, Development and Education, Sindh Integrated Emergency and Health Services, Karachi, Pakistan.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundHealthcare improvement at all levels involves systematic and continuous assessment of the system's operations, efficiency, and effectiveness to ensure quality care. Likewise, in Emergency Medical Services; performance measurement and root cause analysis may aid in identifying the system inadequacies and address potential shortcomings by developing Key Performance Indicators. In this paper, we propose a tailored framework to supplement the performance measurement and healthcare improvement, primarily to monitor the quality of EMS operations and personnel for ambulance transfers, which results in patient collapses in ambulances.

methodsWe developed a Performance Measurement Framework (PMF) based on three essential domains- Structure/System, Process, and Outcome. Each domain was further assigned with different KPIs to assess the performance of EMS operations and personnel during patient transfers. The framework was pilot-tested for one year from January to December 2023, where its use was limited to the cases of patient collapse in ambulances, also referred to as out-of-hospital deaths. To assess progress, we compared the incidence of CIA between the pre-implementation and post-implementation phases, with service operational metrics including coverage, fleet size, workforce, and response times.

resultUsing the PMF as a tool for quality improvement, we observed a 7% reduction in the incidence of patient collapse in ambulances and a 16% reduction in life-threatening cases resulting in CIA despite increases in service coverage (37%), ambulance workforce (32%), fleet (26%), and routine interventions (11%). A slight increases in response times indicate the greater service demands. Through pilot testing, we identified operational gaps including behavioral and communication issues, adherence to SOPs, and equipment management.

conclusionOverall, this paper proposes a performance measurement tool in the field of prehospital care for organizations to thoroughly assess and advance their operations toward healthcare improvement. The study highlights areas requiring improvement such as training guidelines, adherence to operating protocols, and resource optimization. In addition; the integration of technology and advanced training programs for the ambulance workforce may strengthen the overall EMS performance; thereby promising positive patient outcomes, and efficient service delivery and utilization.

trial registrationNot applicable.

Indexed as

AmbulancesEmergency Medical ServicesQuality ImprovementHumansPatient TransferCollapse in ambulanceHealthcare improvementPerformance measurementPrehospital care

Identifiers

PMID40221686
PMCPMC11993962

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.