The use of national highway traffic safety administration uniform prehospital data elements in state emergency medical services data collection systems

Abstract

Objective Although the concept of emergency medical services (EMS) has existed for 30 years, there is little scientific evidence validating its impact on morbidity and mortality. A significant barrier to conducting meaningful assessments relates to the lack of reliable and uniform EMS data. The objective of this study was to determine the extent to which states incorporate the Uniform Prehospital EMS Data Elements into statewide EMS data collection systems. Methods Study investigators requested and compared data elements from all states with a statewide prehospital data collection system. Results During the study period, 43 states with statewide EMS data collection systems captured, on average, 79% of the Uniform Prehospital EMS Data Set. Variables considered essential to EMS evaluation were more likely collected (84%) than variables considered desirable (72%). Only eight (10%) of the 81 uniform data elements are collected by all 43 participating states. Conclusions Findings suggest that related EMS data variables are collected by the majority of states across the country. This degree of similarity provides a foundation for establishing common fields that can be used to develop a national EMS registry.