EMS System Performance Measurement

 IAFF/IAFC EMS System Performance Measures

We are pleased to make available the release of the IAFF/IAFC EMS System Performance Measures Data Collection and Reporting Software.  Using the knowledge gained from more than four years of research and development, this state-of-the-art web-based software offers ease of use for EMS data entry and comprehensive measurement reporting.  We are excited about sharing it with you.

If your Department is interested in using the new system please contact lmoore@iaff.org or call (202) 824-1578 for a registration number.

For more information on the new software, please take the opportunity to download the operations manual from the following link:

EMS System Performance Measurement

This manual will orient you to the various functional aspects of the data entry and reporting system.

A New Way to Measure EMS Performance
The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) is developing performance measures for EMS systems in the United States and Canada so that local and regional governments will have an accurate and unbiased tool to assess the quality of the EMS systems in their communities.

The performance measures will provide a tool to assess compliance with the EMS-related performance objectives in  NFPA Standard 1710. The measures will also be a mechanism for local fire chiefs to report tangible information to municipal budget officials to justify what the fire department does with its budget dollars. Also, the measures will also allow chiefs to communicate knowledge about the system, not just numbers, in annual reports.

How We Got Here
The process began two years ago with 17 focus group meetings held during the IAFF EMS Conference. The focus groups were instrumental in identifying indicators of EMS system quality. The results of the focus groups were given to the IAFF EMS Committee. The committee was charged with generating an agreed-upon set of performance indicators. Representing 16 IAFF districts, each member of the group was selected based on background and experience as a fire-based EMS system leader.

The resulting instrument consists of 15 EMS quality indicators, their definitions and performance measures. The instrument also provides background information relating the indicator to quality in an EMS system, explains any existing standards, notes the absence of standards, proposes a system goal and provides for data collection of information related to each main measure. The indicators include: call processing time, turnout time, defibrillation time to first shock, employee turnover, patient outcome, protocol compliance, deployment of mobile resources, staffing and employee illness and injury. The measurement instrument will provide system leaders the best way to collect relevant data and to report on that data in the future.

[to top]