Coffee and Cases (C&C) - Enhancing Knowledge Creation and Sharing for Organizational Learning From Clinical Debriefs in a Helicopter Emergency Medical Service: A Quality Improvement Study.

Objectives: The objective of this quality improvement (QI) study was to improve organizational learning from clinical debriefs known as "Coffee and Cases" (C&C) in a helicopter emergency medical service (HEMS) by increasing weekly learning summaries (LS) and documented learning points (DLP) as well as the dissemination thereof by at least 50% from baseline.

Methods: The problem analysis for sub-optimal organizational learning from C&C identified several factors, including lack of responsibility, poor documentation quality, and limited sharing of learning points. Using the Model for Improvement (MFI), interventions enhanced the learning environment, and improved documentation and dissemination.

Implementing GRADE in systematic reviews that adhere to JBI methodological conduct.

GRADE is a methodological approach used to establish certainty in a body of evidence and is now widely adopted among the evidence synthesis and guideline development community. JBI is an international evidence-based health care organization that provides guidance for a range of evidence synthesis approaches. The GRADE approach is currently endorsed for use in a subset of JBI systematic reviews; however, there is some uncertainty regarding when (and how) GRADE may be implemented in reviews that follow JBI methodology.

Clinical practice guidelines in prehospital pain management for paramedics: a systematic review protocol.

Objectives: The purpose of this review is to examine prehospital pain management clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) to identify recommendations that can be adopted or adapted into paramedic clinical practice. An additional aim is to consider the methodological quality of these CPGs and the recommendations within them.

Introduction: Quality, evidence-based CPGs support clinicians and optimize patient care.

Development of a checklist for auditing completion of patient report forms: A Delphi study.

Introduction: Medical records are an integral part of patient care. Information loss during the handover from Emergency Care Providers to hospital staff is common and has a significant impact on patient care. Information loss can be prevented with medical documentation that is accurate, complete and contains the relevant information regarding patient management.

Development of prehospital care quality indicators for the Australian setting: a modified RAND/UCLA appropriateness method.

Background: Globally, the measurement of quality is an important process that supports the provision of high-quality and safe healthcare services. The requirement for valid quality measurement to gauge improvements and monitor performance is echoed in the Australian prehospital care setting. The aim of this study was to use an evidence-informed expert consensus process to identify valid quality indicators (QIs) for Australian prehospital care provided by ambulance services.

The Impact of a Novel Operational Readiness Response Model on the Environmental Cleanliness of Emergency Ambulances.

Environmental cleanliness of emergency ambulances may be associated with increased risk of healthcare acquired infection (HAI). Surface cleanliness, measured using adenosine triphosphate (ATP) testing, has been demonstrated to correlate with potentially harmful levels of microbial pathogens. In most ambulance services, environmental cleanliness of ambulances and the equipment within them is the responsibility of paramedics.

Development and testing of Australian prehospital care quality indicators: study protocol.

Introduction: Historically, ambulance services were established to provide rapid transport of patients to hospital. Contemporary prehospital care involves provision of sophisticated 'mobile healthcare' to patients across the lifespan presenting with a range of injuries or illnesses of varying acuity. Because of its young age, the paramedicine profession has until recently experienced a lack of research capacity which has led to paucity of a discipline-specific, scientific evidence-base.

Pelvic circumferential compression devices for prehospital management of suspected pelvic fractures: a rapid review and evidence summary for quality indicator evaluation.

Background: Pelvic fractures, especially when unstable, may cause significant haemorrhage. The early application of a pelvic circumferential compression device (PCCD) in patients with suspected pelvic fracture has established itself as best practice. Ambulance services conduct corresponding performance measurement.

Practical Guidance for Knowledge Synthesis: Scoping Review Methods.

Scoping reviews are a useful approach to synthesizing research evidence although the objectives and methods are different to that of systematic reviews, yet some confusion persists around how to plan and prepare so that a completed scoping review complies with best practice in methods and meets international standards for reporting criteria. This paper describes how to use available guidance to ensure a scoping review project meets global standards, has transparency of methods and promotes readability though the use of innovative approaches to data analysis and presentation. We address some of the common issues such as which projects are more suited to systematic reviews, how to avoid an inadequate search and/or poorly reported search strategy, poorly described methods and lack of transparency, and the issue of how to plan and present results that are clear, visually compelling and accessible to readers.

A comparison of airway management devices in simulated entrapment-trauma: a prospective manikin study.

Introduction: In the patient entrapped after a motor vehicle collision (MVC), advanced airway management may need to be performed before extrication. The aim of this study was to compare four airway management devices utilized by paramedics in a simulated entrapped patient.

Methods: Twenty-six paramedics performed advanced airway management on a manikin seated in the driver's seat (right side) of a car.

Teaching improvement science to paramedicine students: protocol for a systematic scoping review.

Background: It is now more important than ever to equip paramedic students, the likely future managers and leaders of ambulance services, with the knowledge and skills of improvement science. Effective teaching requires a range of teaching methods that will engage students actively in learning. Although the array and effectiveness of methods used for teaching improvement science to clinicians and healthcare students has been systematically reviewed, the evidence regarding the specific sub-group of paramedicine students has yet to be fully explored and synthesized in the literature.

Indicators to measure prehospital care quality: a scoping review.

Objective: The purpose of this scoping review was to locate, examine and describe the literature on indicators used to measure prehospital care quality.

Introduction: The performance of ambulance services and quality of prehospital care has traditionally been measured using simple indicators, such as response time intervals, based on low-level evidence. The discipline of paramedicine has evolved significantly over the last few decades.

Indicators to measure pre-hospital care quality: a scoping review protocol.

The current scoping review seeks to locate, examine and describe international literature on indicators used to measure pre-hospital care quality. Specifically, the review will.