Using spatial regression methods to evaluate rural emergency medical services (EMS)

摘要

Emergency Medical Services (EMS) are acute services provided outside of the hospital. EMS are crucial in rural environments where hospitals are often far away and difficult to access. Establishing EMS performance measures is critical in improving a rural community's access to these services and eliminating systemic inequalities. However, an absence of data leads to challenges in developing objective and quantifiable service metrics. EMS data are regularly collected through the National EMS Information System (NEMSIS), yet the manner of data collection and quality of data vary across agencies. Moreover, the amount and complexity of infomiation makes data analyses difficult, subsequently effecting EMS leaderships' ability to identify improvement needs.