EMD Quality Assurance and Improvement 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which organization provides accreditation to EMD centers based on compliance with quality assurance standards?
- OSHA
- National Academies of Emergency Dispatch (NAED) (Correct answer)
- FEMA
- NHTSA
Correct answer: National Academies of Emergency Dispatch (NAED)
NAED accredits EMD centers that demonstrate consistent compliance with MPDS protocols and QA review requirements.
Question 2: In EMD quality assurance, a 'sentinel event' is best defined as:
- A routine call that meets all protocol benchmarks
- An unexpected serious adverse outcome requiring immediate case review (Correct answer)
- A call where dispatch exceeded target response times
- A scheduled training exercise for new dispatchers
Correct 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.
Question 3: Which time interval metric measures the duration from when a call is answered to when EMS units are dispatched?
- Scene time
- Call processing time (Correct answer)
- Transport time
- On-scene time
Correct answer: Call processing time
Call processing time tracks dispatcher efficiency and any delays between call answer and unit notification.
Question 4: What is the primary purpose of a critical call review in an EMD QA program?
- To discipline dispatchers who made errors
- To identify systemic issues and improve future dispatcher performance (Correct answer)
- To satisfy legal documentation requirements only
- To measure total call volume for the reporting period
Correct 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.
Question 5: In an EMD center, which role is primarily responsible for analyzing QA data trends and recommending protocol improvements?
- Field paramedic
- Shift supervisor
- Quality Improvement Coordinator (Correct answer)
- Communications technician
Correct answer: Quality Improvement Coordinator
The Quality Improvement Coordinator aggregates case review data, identifies patterns, and drives protocol-level changes.
Question 6: 'Determinant accuracy' in an EMD quality assurance program specifically measures whether the dispatcher:
- Correctly selected the MPDS determinant code that matched the patient's condition (Correct answer)
- Entered the caller's address without typographical errors
- Achieved the target call processing time
- Confirmed unit availability before dispatching
Correct 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.
Question 7: What percentage of total monthly calls is the commonly accepted minimum for case review in a quality EMD program?
- Less than 1%
- 5–10% (Correct answer)
- 25–30%
- 50% or more
Correct answer: 5–10%
Most QA standards and NAED accreditation guidelines require reviewing at least 5% of calls monthly to detect performance trends.
