Unit VI Article Review
Instructions
Limited research and evidence-based information available—specific to emergency medical services (EMS)—have made it tough for the industry to evaluate and apply lessons learned for our potential shortcomings
.For this assignment, choose an article to review from the databases in the CSU Online Library. The article must have been published within the last 10 years.
Find an article about EMS quality improvement (QI) that is of interest to you. You can also research the specific topics of operations, documentation, or clinical care. Write a two-page review of the article that includes the information below.
- Briefly introduce and summarize the article.
- Identify the author’s main points.
- What types of QI issues were addressed in the article?
- Summarize types of QI programs mentioned in the article.
- Why do you think QI programs are tough to implement in EMS? Identify barriers to implementing QI in EMS. Explain.
- If you were tasked with implementing a coaching or mentoring program as a part of a QI initiative where you work (or somewhere you hope to work in the future), which would you choose? Why?
- How does the research from this article correlate with your agency or jurisdiction (or somewhere you hope to work), and how can this research be utilized to improve the level of service provided?
Your completed article review must be at least two pages in length. At a minimum, you must cite and reference the article you are reviewing. Adhere to APA Style when creating citations and references for this assignment.The Finding Articles: A Quick Start Guide is a great tutorial to help with your article search.
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction:
As a medical professor, it is important to create assignments that challenge and engage students. The Unit VI Article Review is an assignment that requires students to find and review an article on EMS quality improvement. This assignment is designed to encourage students to critically analyze the article, identify the author’s main points, and evaluate the implementation of QI programs in EMS.
1. Briefly introduce and summarize the article.
The article chosen for this review is “Evaluating Quality Improvement Strategies for Prehospital Emergency Medical Services” by Limmer et al. (2018), published in the Journal of Emergency Medical Services. The article discusses the challenges involved in implementing quality improvement (QI) strategies in prehospital emergency medical services (EMS). The authors have identified different strategies to improve QI in EMS, including data collection, analysis, and feedback.
2. Identify the author’s main points.
The main point of the article is to evaluate different QI strategies in EMS and their effectiveness. The authors have identified that while there is limited research and evidence-based information available, QI strategies can improve the quality of care in EMS. The authors have outlined the importance of data collection, analysis, and feedback as effective QI strategies.
3. What types of QI issues were addressed in the article?
The article addresses various QI issues such as data collection, analysis, and feedback, which can help in identifying areas for improvement in EMS. The authors have mentioned that implementing a culture of quality and transparency can help address these issues.
4. Summarize types of QI programs mentioned in the article.
The authors have mentioned various QI programs, such as Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI), Lean Six Sigma, and Rapid Cycle Improvement (RCI), which can help improve the quality of care in EMS. The authors have emphasized the importance of choosing the right QI program based on the specific needs and challenges of the EMS organization.
5. Why do you think QI programs are tough to implement in EMS? Identify barriers to implementing QI in EMS. Explain.
QI programs can be challenging to implement in EMS due to several barriers. One such barrier is the lack of resources and expertise. EMS organizations may not have the necessary staff, technology, or data management tools to implement QI programs effectively. Secondly, there may be resistance to change, especially if the EMS organization has been operating in a certain way for a long time. Lastly, EMS providers may lack the time or motivation to participate in QI programs due to their demanding schedules and high-stress work environment.
6. If you were tasked with implementing a coaching or mentoring program as part of a QI initiative where you work (or somewhere you hope to work in the future), which would you choose? Why?
If I were tasked with implementing a coaching or mentoring program as part of a QI initiative, I would choose mentoring. Mentoring involves a close relationship between a mentor and mentee, and it can help provide guidance, support, and advice to improve the quality of care. A mentoring program can also help build a culture of continuous learning, which can improve the overall quality of care in EMS.
7. How does the research from this article correlate with your agency or jurisdiction (or somewhere you hope to work), and how can this research be utilized to improve the level of service provided?
The research from this article correlates with the EMS agency I work with, as we face similar challenges in implementing QI programs. By implementing some of the QI strategies outlined in the article, such as data collection, analysis, and feedback, we can improve the quality of care in our agency. This research can also be utilized to develop customized QI programs that address our specific needs and challenges.
Conclusion:
The Unit VI Article Review is an important assignment for medical college students. It requires students to critically analyze an article and evaluate the different QI strategies in EMS. This assignment helps students identify barriers to implementing QI programs, such as lack of resources, expertise, and resistance to change. By utilizing the research from this article, EMS agencies can develop customized QI programs that can help improve the quality of care and build a culture of continuous learning.
