A Generic Performance Framework for Ambulance Services: An Australian Health Services Perspective

Abstract

This review explores a selection of existing methods that measure ambulance service performance and identifies a performance framework that could be useful in a variety of contextual settings. It drew on a selection of well-known performance frameworks currently in use within emergency, health and ambulance systems. It is recommended that ambulance authorities adopt a health services performance framework in preference to the widely used emergency services framework with its heavy emphasis on time intervals such as response times. This suggested framework should be able to accommodate a wide range of validated clinical and non-clinical performance indicators that better reflect the position of ambulance services as part of the health system.