Success Stories

Not sure where to start the SHSP collaboration process with your colleagues in EMS or Highway Safety? Success stories from around the country illustrate successful partnerships that can be emulated.
Learn more about EMS strategies included in SHSPs across the nation.

Success Stories: Maryland | Alabama | Maine | Minnesota | Washington | Kentucky | Missouri
 
 

EMS: A leader in SHSP implementation

Originally, Maryland’s SHSP development process envisioned EMS as part of all emphasis areas. However, given the importance of EMS in improving safety, the State EMS Director felt a more focused effort was needed. The Executive Director of the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Service Systems (MIEMSS) discussed the issue with the SHSP Executive Committee, which decided to add EMS as a separate emphasis area. The EMS emphasis area team, which includes key EMS and law enforcement representatives, developed an action plan funded primarily by the State EMS agency.  Creation of an EMS emphasis area raised visibility of this important safety component among SHSP stakeholders. The EMS team made significant contributions to public information efforts and EMS stakeholders actively contribute to other emphasis areas, further reinforcing the 4 Es approach to safety.


 

EMS improvements: A key strategy for reducing response time to crashes

AlabamaAlabama

Most of Alabama’s deaths occur on rural roads.  Why? One reason was that response time to the crash scene was greater than 20 minutes in many cases.  As a result, Alabama had 223 crash deaths in 2003, which equated to 20% to 25% of all deaths in the state that year.  When the state's first SHPS was developed, SHSP leaders selected EMS as one of the critical areas on which to focus and consequently included five EMS-related priorities in the SHSP: a statewide assessment plan; identification and organization of performance data; improvements to communications systems and volunteer training; and the providing of air coverage for rural areas.  When the National EMS Information System (NEMSIS) became operational, the Alabama EMS embraced the system and became one of the first five U.S. states to implement this program. Next, the National Association of State EMS Officials developed a Model Inventory of Emergency Care Elements (MIECE) to provide assessment tools to help states determine the availability and readiness of emergency response for any part of ht state's roadways. The Alabama EMS served on the national working group that helped develop these tools. The creation of NEMSIS and other tools, and the efforts of the Alabama EMS, will provide long-term benefits in the form of saved lives and diminished consequences of injuries. Today, Highway Safety and EMS schedule meetings and exchange emails or phone calls when new guidelines and programs are introduced.  Collaboration is an ongoing and easy process as a result of regular communication.


 

Maine creates "EMS ambassador" for SHSP involvement

Maine's SHSP Program Manager and its EMS Director started working together on the CODES project back in 2003.  The relationship developed further when they served together on Maine’s Traffic Records Coordinating Committee (TRCC), where EMS is very involved. Understanding the importance of integrating EMS into the SHSP process, EMS was invited to participate in Maine's most recent SHSP revision.  Together with their partners, EMS Officials crafted a section in the 2011 SHSP dedicated to EMS. EMS strategies included pertain to various areas, including training (treatment protocols), data Improvement and linkage, quality improvement, education, and the safety of EMS personnel. To take the collaboration a step further, the EMS Director was enlisted to become an EMS Ambassador, presenting at the annual Northeast Transportation Safety Conference on reaching out to EMS counterparts during the SHSP process. The Director/Ambassador holds a session at each conference that encourages Highway Safety Officials from other New England states and beyond to reach out to their EMS counterparts.


 

Improving EMS data quality with grant funding

MinnesotaMinnesota

In an effort to support the state’s SHSP EMS strategies for enhancing ambulance service, coordinating emergency responder databases and reducing emergency repose times , Minnesota’s EMS office obtained NHTSA funding to analyze and improve data quality. Minnesota recognized that improving data quality would provide a roadmap for improvements in the state ambulance reporting system and ultimately a reduction in fatalities.

A two-year consultant contract was funded through the DOT’s TRCC, utilizing NHTSA 408 grant funds (now the NHTSA 405 grant fund), which can only be used to fund data-related projects. The consultant had two primary functions, the first of which was to evaluate and improve the accuracy of ambulance services data. Problem areas were identified and regional meetings held to advise EMS providers on how to improve data quality and correctly complete and input reports to the state ambulance reporting system (MNSTAR). The second function was to research and improve the accessibility of ambulance services data, such as developing a system for automating distribution of ambulance data reports. Better data quality means more accurate evaluation of ambulance service providers' performance, response times, and patient care.


 

EMS: An active participant on SHSP update committees

WashingtonWashington

Washington began its most recent SHSP update (Target Zero) with an analysis of critical traffic safety data including collisions, fatalities, driver and vehicle licensing, and EMS/hospital/trauma data. The state then identified the biggest contributors to deaths and serious injuries.

The Washington Traffic Safety Commission (WTSC) and Washington State DOT (WSDOT) formed several teams to guide the development of the SHSP update:

  • Analysis Team
  • Steering Committee
  • Partners Team
  • Project Team (responsible for putting the plan update together with guidance and input from the Steering Committee and Partner Team)

Representatives from EMS (the Department of Health and Injury Prevention Research Center) were represented on each of the teams, excluding the Analysis team.

At a "partnering" meeting, the WSTC/WSDOT presented information on the Target Zero Plan, how successful it has been and how it needs to be improved. Input was sought from key statewide safety partners, several of whom were from the EMS community, including a Trauma and Injury Prevention Manager, an Injury Prevention Specialist and an EMS and Trauma Epidemiologist.

The updated SHSP includes Emergency Medical Services as a Priority Level Three focus area. The two goals in this priority area are: to reduce injury deaths and hospitalizations through EMS response and access to trauma care, and increase communication and data capacity.


 

EMS is a Critical SHSP Partner

KentuckyKentucky

EMS leaders are very involved in the Kentucky SHSP process. The Governor’s Executive Committee on Highway Safety is a multi-agency group of highway safety advocates from different backgrounds who serve with "one voice" on Kentucky highway safety issues. It also provides extensive support to the State’s SHSP, including coordinating the development and implementation of SHSP goals and supporting actions and helping to acquire needed resources. The Executive Director of the Kentucky Board of EMS (KBEMS) is a member of this Executive Committee.

Additionally, EMS strategies are included in the Traffic Records Emphasis Area of their SHSP

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SHSP Goal 6 of Traffic Records:

Continually improve EMS and injury data quality

Objective 1: Improve accessibility of EMS data for traffic safety applications

Strategy 1: Establish a statewide computerized reporting system for EMS ambulance runs
Strategy 2: Implement Information Systems for Emergency Medical Services

Objective 2: Improve completeness and accuracy of injury data

Strategy 1: Implement external-cause-of injury codes (E-codes) on hospital inpatient and outpatient databases, for patients involved in motor vehicle crashes

Several projects have been initiated as a result, including:

Project: Kentucky Emergency Medical Services Information System (KEMSIS)
A statewide initiative for collection, analysis, and integration of EMS System and Patient Care Data (KBEMS), designed to provide consistent, accurate and timely data collection for all Commonwealth EMS Service Providers, EMS First Responders and EMS training centers. A portion of available grant funding will be used to provide advanced training to ‘super-users’ to allow further expansion and training.

Project: Kentucky Trauma Registry Expansion
This project will provide a more complete and detailed account of traumatic injury and trauma care. It will support the inclusion of the expanded trauma data set, which is part of a uniform national data set, in the statewide trauma registry report. Funding will be used to analyze data reporting from the expanded state trauma registry, disseminate findings, and incorporate newly verified trauma facilities into registry reports.


 

Including EMS Strategies and Performance Measures

MissouriMissouri

EMS representatives from the Department of Health and Senior Services served on Missouri’s SHSP (Missouri’s Blueprint to Save More Lives) revision Working Group, and EMS officials were engaged to discuss potential SHSP strategies. In addition, EMS representatives sit on selected Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety state subcommittees and as members of Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety Regional Coalitions.

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Missouri’s SHSP includes EMS/Emergency Response as a category under "Key Strategies" and Highway Safety officials continue to work with their EMS partners to implement these strategies which are:

  • Develop a plan to expand the awareness and use of In Case of Emergency (ICE) to encourage people to enter emergency contact information in their mobile phone, and
  • Improve emergency response time through better planning and communication.

The SHSP also identifies performance measures for the Focus Areas that involve EMS:

  • Focus Area - Traffic Incident Management Areas
    Performance Measures:
    • Average EMS response time from the time of call to departure to incident scene
    • Average EMS on-scene time to in-route to trauma center
  • Focus Area - Data Accessibility
    Performance Measure:
    • Average number of days from date of an EMS run to the date when the EMS patient care report is entered