IRVING, Texas — The National EMS Quality Alliance (NEMSQA), in partnership with the Florida Department of Health and the Florida Center for EMS, has launched the EMS Data Quality and Utilization Improvement Project to strengthen care through improved data practices.
The initiative aims to boost EMS participation in clinical and system-level quality improvement by improving data quality, reporting and use, with a targeted focus on bolstering services in rural Florida communities, NEMSQA said in a statement. Organizers say better data will enable more informed clinical decisions, resource allocation and performance measurement across the state’s EMS systems.
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“This project is the next phase of the F.A.I.R. EMS Measurement Project, F.A.I.R. 2.0,” Director for Emergency Preparedness and Community Support, Florida Department of Health, Steve McCoy said. “Rural EMS agencies often face significant challenges in data collection, reporting, and performance measurement. The F.A.I.R. Project, focused on Feasible, Actionable, Impactful, and Relevant measures, was created to close these gaps. With new funding and national collaboration, the project now aims to ensure rural EMS providers can fully participate in using their data to improve care.”
The project includes a statewide needs assessment, updated data-quality guidelines to strengthen NEMSIS submissions, recommendations for improving ePCR vendor tools and performance tracking, and new training resources. It also adds a recognition program for agencies that meet high standards for data quality, giving departments a roadmap for data-driven quality improvement and continuous improvement.
Florida has partnered with NEMSQA to develop more than 30 EMS quality measures, including 10 adopted as national measures in 2023, but data quality and implementation gaps persist. The new project will formally assess those challenges and provide practical guidance for agencies in Florida and beyond.
“High-quality data is the foundation of high-quality care,” NEMSQA Immediate-President of the Board Michael Redlener said. “This project ensures that EMS agencies —especially those in rural communities — have the tools, training, and support they need to participate fully in national quality improvement efforts. Together with our partners in Florida, we are building a stronger, more reliable EMS system for patients everywhere.”
