Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-mkpzs Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-25T06:06:44.707Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Performance Indicators as Quality Control for Testing and Evaluating Hospital Management Groups: A Pilot Study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 June 2012

Anders Rüter*
Affiliation:
Centre for Teaching and Research in Disaster Medicine, University Hospital, Linkömping, Sweden
Heléne Nilsson
Affiliation:
Centre for Teaching and Research in Disaster Medicine, University Hospital, Linkömping, Sweden
Tore Vilkström
Affiliation:
Centre for Teaching and Research in Disaster Medicine, University Hospital, Linkömping, Sweden
*
Anders Rüter Centre for Teaching and Research in Disaster Medicine, University Hospital, S-581 85 Linköping, Sweden E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract

Introduction:

An important issue in disaster medicine is the establishment of standards that can be used as a template for evaluation. With the establishment of standards, the ability to compare results will improve, both within and between different organizations involved in disaster management.

Objective:

Performance indicators were developed for testing in simulations exercises with the purpose of evaluating the skills of hospital management groups. The objective of this study is to demonstrate how these indicators can be used to create numerically expressed results that can be compared.

Methods:

Three different management groups were tested in standardized simulation exercises. The testing took place according to the organization's own disaster plan and within their own facilities. Trained observers used a predesigned protocol of performance indicators as a template for the evaluation.

Results:

The management group that scored lowest in management skills also scored lowest in staff skills.

Conclusion:

The use of performance indicators for evaluating the management skills of hospital groups can provide comparable results in testing situations and could provide a new tool for quality improvement of evaluations of real incidents and disasters.

Type
Original Research
Copyright
Copyright © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2006

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1. Emergo Train System Website. Available at http://www.emergotrain.com. Accessed 19 April 2006.Google Scholar
2.Carbonell, D, Mark, P: The EMA Projects Program Report. Australian Journal of Emergency Management 2006;21(1).Google Scholar
3. Advanced Life Support Group: Major Incident Medical Management and Support. The Practical Approach. 4th Ed 2000. BMJ Publishing GroupGoogle Scholar
4.Lennquist, S: Promotion of disaster medicine to a scientific discipline—A slow and painful, but necessary process. International Journal of Disaster Medicine 2003;1(2):9596. Editorial.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
5.Rüter, A, Örtenwall, P, Vikström, T: Performance indicators for major incident medical management—A possible tool for quality control? International Journal of Disaster Medicine 2004;2(1–2.:5255.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
6.Sundnes, KO, Birnbaum, ML (eds.): Health disaster management guidelines for evaluation and research in the Utstein style. Prehosp Disast Med 2003;17(suppl 3):s11–s20.Google Scholar
7.Oyegbite, K: What have we learned?—Coordination. Prehosp Disast Med 2005;20(6):471474.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
8.MacFarlane, C, Benn, CA: Evaluation of emergency medical systems: A classification to assist in determination of indicators. Emerg Med J 2003;20(2):188191.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
9.Rüter, A, Örtenwall, P, Vikström, T: Performance indicators for prehospital command and control in training of medical first responders. International Journal of Disaster Medicine 2004;2(3):8992.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
10.Rüter, A, Dahlé, N, Wikström, T: Evaluation of medical management using performance indicators. Case report. Scandinavian Journal of Trauma Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine 2004;12:108109. [Article in Swedish].Google Scholar
11.Rüter, A, Örtenwall, P, Wikström, T: A new system for transmission of online information from scene of accident and ambulances to hospitals. International Journal of Disaster Medicine 2003;1(2):127131.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
12.Rüter, A, Örtenwall, P, Wikström, T: Comparison of an online information system with a conventional ambulance file system regarding the retrieval of information after missions. International Journal of Disaster Medicine 2005;3(1–4):3740.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
13.Thomas, TL, Hsu, EB, Kim, H et al: The incident command system in disasters: evaluation methods for a hospitalbased exercise. Prehosp Disast Med 2005;20(1):1423.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed