EMS Culture of Safety

Course overview

Objectives. List the concepts behind Just Culture. Describe the components of the EMS Safety Data System. Explain the functions of the EMSSRC. Content. I. Content. a. The enduring value and priority placed on worker and public safety by everyone in every group at every level of an organization. It refers to the extent to which individuals and groups commit to personal responsibility for safety act to preserve enhance and communicate safety concerns strive to actively learn adapt and modify both individual and organizational behavior based on lessons learned from mistakes and be rewarded in a manner consistent with these values. II. Identify and explain the five core elements necessary to advance an EMS Culture of Safety as described in the 2013 Strategy for a National EMS Culture of Safety. a. Just Culture. i. Development of environments in which EMS personnel are safe to report errors. Focus on the various factors that contributed to the error. ii. Assess risks in order to identify means of overcoming factors that contribute to errors. Systems factors and individual factors are examined in order to make improvements to avoid future errors. iii. Blaming or punishing is not an option in a Just Culture. b. Coordinated support and resources. i. Creation of a guidance and resource coordination body. Example EMS Safety Resource Center EMSSRC. a. Purpose is to determine the best way to effectively serve EMS in the support role. b. Partner with governing bodies to serve as a conduit of information and resources for EMS safety. c. No oversight or authority. d. Suggested support areas. i. Outreach and resources for EMS and other stakeholders. ii. Resources for public outreach. iii. Measuring progress and success. c. EMS Safety Data System. i. Data driven decisions and policies related to EMS safety can only be made if all data is accessible on a national level. ii. A robust secure system allows access to researchers decision makers and national stakeholder groups. iii. Data sets have been identified and will be analyzed and used to inform future plans initiatives processes and policies to protect the health and well being of EMS personnel patients and the general public.