PATIENT SAFETY AND QUALITY IMPROVEMENT IN EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES: CURRENT PRACTICES AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS

To prevent unfavorable events during prehospital treatment, emergency medical services (EMS) implement several patient safety-focused actions and procedures. Influential reports and technology that have always been interested in improving the quality of care have caused this profession to undergo many changes. This review intends to explain the current state of patient safety in EMS, quality improvement activities, and the future outlook. It comprises information from the national and state standards, protocols, and guidelines such as the ‘EMS Agenda for the Future’, CQI models, and case studies. Today’s practices are focused on training, technology, and quality improvement where technologies like EHRs, telemedicine, and decision support systems improve patient care. However, challenges such as human resource constraints, communication breakdown, and regulatory concerns are still present. The main directions for the further enhancement of safety and quality in the future are the use of data and patient-oriented care. The review also identifies the areas that need improvement and innovation, where the future research directions show the use of new technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, changes in the legal requirements, and the use of international standards. Further research is needed to define the concept of patient-oriented care in emergency medical services and evaluate the effectiveness of safety interventions.