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Translation of Evidence‐Based Clinical Standards into a New Prehospital Resuscitation Policy in L os A ngeles C ounty
Author(s) -
Grudzen Corita R.,
Richardson Lynne D.,
Koenig William J.,
Hoffman Jerome R.,
Lorenz Karl A.,
Asch Steven M.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
health services research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.706
H-Index - 121
eISSN - 1475-6773
pISSN - 0017-9124
DOI - 10.1111/j.1475-6773.2011.01341.x
Subject(s) - agency (philosophy) , general partnership , commission , medicine , inclusion (mineral) , resuscitation , medical emergency , business , emergency medicine , psychology , finance , social psychology , philosophy , epistemology
Objective To translate a set of evidence‐based clinical standards designed to allow paramedics to forgo unnecessary and potentially harmful resuscitation attempts into a feasible new policy. Data Sources/Setting Policy documents, meeting minutes, and personal communications between a large urban E mergency M edical S ervices ( EMS ) agency serving all of L os A ngeles C ounty ( LAC ) and a research group were reviewed over 12 months. Study Design LAC EMS and U niversity of C alifornia, L os A ngeles ( UCLA ) formed a partnership (the EMS ‐ UCLA C ollaborative ) to develop and translate the standards into new EMS protocols. Clinical indicators considered appropriate and feasible by an expert panel were submitted to the agency for inclusion in the new policy. Findings The C ollaborative submitted the results to the LAC EMS Commission and a physician advisory group for review. Of the 41 indicators approved by the expert panel, 22 would have resulted in changes to the current policy. All six involved asking family members about or honoring written and verbal Do Not Attempt Resuscitate requests, but only 4 of the 16 indicators based on clinical characteristics were included in the new policy. Ultimately, 10 of the 22 indicators that would have changed policy were approved and implemented. Conclusions By collaboration, a large EMS agency and a research team were able to develop and implement a revised resuscitation policy within 1 year.