EMS Quality Council

Governmental decision makers and consumers need objective evidence that they are receiving value and quality for the cost of EMS systems. The California EMS Authority has developed EMS System Quality Improvement Program Model Guidelines to assist local EMS agencies and providers to evaluate and improve the quality of their EMS systems. In Alameda County, the EMS Quality Council will be responsible for assessing and making recommendations to improve policies and procedures that contribute to the overall performance of the system.

Quality Council members include quality coordinators representing all EMS system provider agencies, including the base hospital, fire departments, dispatch and AMR. The EMS District Quality Management Coordinator chairs the committee and EMS Medical Director plays an active role in the work of the group. The Quality Council reconvened in July 2005 and re-established its purpose, based on the state guidelines:

Quality Council Agendas:
6/14/06
5/10/06
3/8/06
2/8/06
1/11/06
12/14/05
10/12/05
7/13/05
Six Sigma (information)
Dispatch and Six Sigma
EMS Constituent Survey
Documents
Resources
Forms

Six Sigma

 The Alameda County EMS system is now closer than it has ever been to receiving standardized data from our providers. The goal of data collection has always been to make changes to the system based on statistical evidence, derived from data analysis. The Quality Council will need to know how to use the data effectively when it becomes available.

The Six Sigma approach to performance improvement incorporates the principles of other quality improvement models, but provides a more comprehensive approach that ensures that improvement projects are aligned with the strategic plan and supported by the senior leadership of the organization. Six Sigma also has clearly delineated steps and a broader range of statistical tools than other models.

Six Sigma was originally developed by Motorola, and was largely responsible for the company being awarded the first Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award in 1988. The designers of Six Sigma training programs designated progressive “belt” levels for each course, borrowed from the martial arts.

Seventeen candidates, many of whom are members of the Quality Council, successfully completed a Six Sigma Yellow Belt course sponsored by Alameda County EMS in mid-September 2005. This course prepares students to be active members of Six Sigma project teams. Course evaluations indicate that the class was well received. The company that provided the training is considering offering the next level of training (Green Belt) in the Bay Area within the next few months. The Green Belt course trains participants in the statistical tools necessary to become project team leader/facilitators. In Six Sigma, Black Belts have extensive training and experience, and usually serve as consultants to project team leaders.

Documents

Statistical Thinking Applied to Everyday Data by Davis Balestracci

Creating Organizational Data “Sanity” by Davis Balestracci

Assessment of the Status of Quality Management of the Alameda County EMS System – 2005

Authority for EMS Quality Improvement Program

Baldrige National Quality Program 2006 Health Care Criteria for Performance Excellence

Baldrige, Six Sigma and ISO: Understanding Your Options

Emergency Medical Services System Quality Improvement Program Model Guidelines

Six Sigma Training Exercises: This document illustrates some of the tools learned in the Yellow Belt Course. These were practice exercises and do not reflect actual projects.

Resources

Websites:

Books & Articles:

Forms: