Development and use of clinical performance indicators for ambulance services and prehospital care: a discussion paper for a clinical quality improvement framework for ambulance services

Clinical Performance Indicators for ambulance services should be developed in line with best evidence, in partnership with clinicians and service users, and linked to national structures for knowledge and evidence, clinical expertise and research and development. Their development should be guided by a performance monitoring protocol. Clinical Performance Indicators for ambulance services should be meaningful, measurable and realistic, aiming to address issues that matter to patients and clinicians, to benchmark performance, to reduce variations within and between health services and to bring about improvements in care for patients and users. Indicators should function as part of a planned clinical quality improvement framework that draws on modern improvement principles, methods, tools and techniques. Clinical Performance Indicators for ambulance services should be designed to provide safe, effective, patient centred, timely, efficient and equitable healthcare. Importantly, they should support clinicians and services in providing better care to their patients. Resources should be made available to trusts to undertake such measurements, to contribute to the national data set, to participate in future development and to deliver the aims of quality improvement