Quality Assurance and Improvement Flashcards

Which organization provides accreditation to EMD centers based on compliance with quality assurance standards?

Answer: National Academies of Emergency Dispatch (NAED)

NAED accredits EMD centers that demonstrate consistent compliance with MPDS protocols and QA review requirements.

In EMD quality assurance, a 'sentinel event' is best defined as:

Answer: An unexpected serious adverse outcome requiring immediate case review

Sentinel events are unexpected adverse outcomes — such as patient death or serious harm — that trigger mandatory, structured review.

Which time interval metric measures the duration from when a call is answered to when EMS units are dispatched?

Answer: Call processing time

Call processing time tracks dispatcher efficiency and any delays between call answer and unit notification.

What is the primary purpose of a critical call review in an EMD QA program?

Answer: To identify systemic issues and improve future dispatcher performance

Critical call reviews are improvement tools — the goal is learning and systemic change, not punishment.

In an EMD center, which role is primarily responsible for analyzing QA data trends and recommending protocol improvements?

Answer: Quality Improvement Coordinator

The Quality Improvement Coordinator aggregates case review data, identifies patterns, and drives protocol-level changes.

'Determinant accuracy' in an EMD quality assurance program specifically measures whether the dispatcher:

Answer: Correctly selected the MPDS determinant code that matched the patient's condition

Determinant accuracy evaluates whether the dispatcher's final code selection (e.g., 9-Delta-1) correctly matched the clinical situation reported.

What percentage of total monthly calls is the commonly accepted minimum for case review in a quality EMD program?

Answer: 5–10%

Most QA standards and NAED accreditation guidelines require reviewing at least 5% of calls monthly to detect performance trends.