Core Quality Measures Project
The purpose of the California EMS System Core Quality Measures Project is to increase the accessibility and accuracy of pre-hospital data for public, policy, academic and research purposes and to facilitate EMS system evaluation and improvement. Ultimately, the project highlights opportunities to improve the quality of patient care delivered within an EMS system.
Core quality measures are tools that define data, communicate information about current evidence-based activities or processes, establish a consensus, and inspire discussion and action based on the results. The preliminary measures were derived from a set of performance measures developed through projects by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, National Quality Forum, and the National Association of State EMS Officials’ EMS Compass Project. In 2018, the EMS Compass Project was transitioned to The National EMS Quality Alliance (NEMSQA). NEMSQA published a set of re-specified measures in 2019 and maintains the measures on an annual basis. The Core Quality Measures Project aligns with the national measure set, focusing on meaningful patient populations and interventions to improve quality of care in California.
Participation in the Core Quality Measures Project by local EMS agencies (LEMSAs) enhances statewide EMS system evaluation, continuous quality improvement efforts, and data-driven actions by EMS systems across California. LEMSAs and EMS providers should use the measures to review their performance, compare results to similar regions, and to drive quality improvement activities. The EMS system quality improvement regulations (CCR, Title 22, Division 9, Chapter 12) define the reporting requirements for local EMS agencies, EMS service providers, and base hospitals in their role as part of the EMS system. These requirements include, but are not limited to, the implementation of an EMS Quality Improvement Program and the use of defined indicators, such as the core quality measures, to assess the local EMS system.
Core Quality Measures Reports
- Core Quality Measures Report on 2023 Data (pdf) (Most Current Report)
- Core Quality Measures Report on 2022 Data (pdf) (Updated December 2023)
- Core Quality Measures Report on 2021 Data (pdf) (Updated November 2022)
- Core Quality Measures Report on 2020 Data (pdf) (Updated June 2022)
- Core Quality Measures Report on 2019 Data (pdf) (Updated April 2021)
- Core Quality Measures Report on 2018 Data (pdf) (Updated February 2020)
- Core Quality Measures Report on 2016 Data (pdf) (Updated December 2017)
- Core Quality Measures Report on 2015 Data (pdf) (Updated September 2016)
- Core Quality Measures Report on 2014 Data (pdf) (Updated November 2015)
Core Quality Measures Instruction Manuals
- EMS Core Quality Measures Instruction Manual (EMSA Publication SYS 100-20) – 2024 Data (Updated October 2024) (PDF)
- EMS Core Quality Measures Instruction Manual – NEMSIS 3.5 Update for 2023 Data (PDF)
- EMS Core Quality Measures Instruction Manual (EMSA Publication SYS 100-11) – 2022-2023 Data (Updated November 2023) (PDF)
- EMS Core Quality Measures Instruction Manual (EMSA Publication SYS 100-10) – 2021 Data (Updated February 2022) (pdf)
- EMS Core Quality Measures Instruction Manual (EMSA Publication SYS 100-04) – 2020 Data (Updated July 2021) (pdf)
Documents
Biospatial – Quick Start Guide for CA Core Quality Measures (11-2023) (PDF)
Resources
California Emergency Medical Services Information System (CEMSIS)
National Emergency Medical Services Information System (NEMSIS)
National EMS Quality Alliance (NEMSQA)
National Association of State EMS Officials EMS Compass Project
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA): EMS.gov
Contact Information
For questions or inquiries related to the Core Quality Measures Project, please email EMSData@emsa.ca.gov.