title: [Assessment of the regional Emergency Medical Service of Friuli-Venezia-Giulia based on the Mattoni SSN Quality Indicators].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The need for shared definitions and evidence based quality-indicators is widely perceived among Emergency Medical Services (EMS). In the region Friuli Venezia Giulia (FVG), Italy, both an EMS and a data collection system were established several years ago, but a comprehensive assessment of their quality had never been attempted and is the purpose of this study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Analysis of data regarding EMS emergency activities in the period January - September 2009. The quality indicators proposed by the national project entitled «Progetto Mattoni» were used.
  
  
  METHODS
  79 915 records were included, corresponding to 68 340 calls, 78 158 missions, 50 168 patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The database has poor accuracy and accessibility. Only 20/64 indicators could be applied. Some of their definitions limit the applicability and/or reproducibility. The distribution of resources among the 4 operative centres of the region is uneven, as well as their performances in terms of call-to arrival interval. The standard recommended by the national guidelines for urban areas (8 minutes) is respected in only 56%of cases.The rescue intervals are shorter in operative centers with more resources per capita.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is considerable scope for improvement in both the data collection system and EMS.The indicators themselves should be partly revised.
authors.affiliation: Servizio 118, elisoccorso, Azienda ospedaliero-universitaria di Udine. muchiutti.michela@aoud.sanita.fvg.it
authors.forename: Michela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Muchiutti
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Di Bartolomeo
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Valent
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Barbone
authors.forename: Alvisa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Palese
mesh_terms: D003625:Data Collection; D016208:Databases, Factual / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000600:supply & distribution; D006078:Government Programs; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D058996:Quality Improvement; D019984:Quality Indicators, Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014187:Transportation of Patients / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014504:Urban Health