Quality assurance and continuous quality improvement within air transport programs.
BACKGROUND
In June of 1993, the Association of Air Medical Services (AAMS) Quality Management Committee surveyed 240 air medical programs regarding their Quality Assurance and Continuous Quality Improvement activities.


METHODS
The survey tool consisted of questions related to Quality Assurance/Continuous Quality Improvement program structure and specific Quality Assurance indicators contained in the AAMS/NFNA Quality Assurance Resource Document. Comparisons were made among fixed-wing, rotor-wing, and combined programs, for use of the Quality Assurance Resource Document, for availability of computers and for hospital-based versus profit or public service programs.


RESULTS
Returned surveys totaled 148 for a 62% return rate, with most of the respondents being single hospital based programs. Ninety-three percent of those surveyed have a Quality Assurance program in place to monitor indicators, whereas 63% have also begun to include the Continuous Quality Improvement team process. Only 50% of respondents use computers in their Quality Assurance/Continuous Quality Improvement activities.


CONCLUSIONS
Significant differences among groups were found for several Quality Assurance indicators.
Balazs
K T
KT
Samaritan Health System, Phoenix, AZ, USA.
Thompson
C B
CB
D017732:Air Ambulances; D003625:Data Collection; D016730:Program Development; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D017749:Total Quality Management; D014187:Transportation of Patients / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*; D014481:United States