@article{ref1,
title="The effect of a quality improvement program on paramedic on-scene times for patients with penetrating trauma",
journal="Academic emergency medicine",
year="1999",
author="Eckstein, M. and Alo, K.",
volume="6",
number="3",
pages="191-195",
abstract="OBJECTIVE: To decrease paramedic on-scene times (OSTs) for major trauma patients through a focused quality improvement (QI) program. METHODS: A prospective study was conducted from 1993 through 1997 to determine the impact of a QI program on paramedic OSTs. All penetrating trauma patients transported by paramedics to Los Angeles County/USC Medical Center, a Level-1 trauma center, were included, and all cases with OSTs > 20 minutes were reviewed in detail for extenuating circumstances. Cases including multiple victims or unsecured scenes were considered &quot;acceptable deviations.&quot; All others were considered &quot;fallouts,&quot; which prompted extensive review with the paramedics and their field supervisors. RESULTS: Prior to the inception of the QI project there was a 4.1% fallout rate of penetrating trauma patients with OSTs > 20 minutes. This fallout rate fell to 1.5% in 1997 (p < 0.01). Mortality rates among these fallouts decreased from 5.1% to 0.8% during the study period (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: An intensive QI program can have a significant, positive impact on paramedic OSTs among patients with penetrating trauma.<p /><p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1069-6563",
doi="",
url="http://dx.doi.org/"
}