Home

South Carolina EMS Data System

Tue, 06/10/2008 - 10:20am — bbarrier

Goals and Mission
It is the goal of this project to promote and support EMS initiatives using established quality management and performance improvement principles at the local, state, and national levels. It is anticipated this project will serve as a cornerstone to the overall mission of the SC Division of EMS & Trauma providing key data to promote and assure quality EMS service delivery, disaster management, personnel performance, and patient care for the entire state.
Data System Implementation Documents
South Carolina EMS Data System FAQ
(Click each question to see the answer)
  • What exciting event is occurring in South Carolina?

    The Duke Endowment has awarded a multi-year grant to the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SC DHEC), Division of EMS and Trauma, to implement a South Carolina EMS Data System using a group of applications developed and maintained by the EMS Performance Improvement Center (EMSPIC).

    The EMS Data System includes the following applications:

    • Prehospital Medical Information System (PreMIS)
    • Credentialing Information System (CIS)
    • The EMS Performance Improvement Toolkit Project

    EMSPIC South Carolina Press Release (Adobe PDF, 14 Kb)

  • What does the infusion of these grant dollars into South Carolina EMS systems mean to the citizens of South Carolina?

    This investment in the South Carolina EMS infrastructure by The Duke Endowment brings the EMS data and performance improvement tools currently implemented in North Carolina to the state of South Carolina. The implementation of CIS, PreMIS, and EMS Toolkits within South Carolina will provide a modern web-based interface to promote quality EMS service delivery, resource management, and patient care. Data collected and maintained within this new South Carolina EMS Data System will provide valuable insight to identify, evaluate, and drive local and state EMS initiatives in areas such as education, operations, disaster planning, resource allocation, advocacy, policy, and finance. The use of the EMS Toolkits within South Carolina's EMS Systems will provide guidance through proven performance indicators to improve and optimize patient care at the local EMS System and community level.

  • Which agencies will initiate the implementation of the EMS Data Systems into South Carolina?
    The first year of the South Carolina EMS Data System Project will focus on implementing PreMIS within the largest counties in South Carolina. According to 2006 census data, these counties comprise approximately 50% of South Carolina's 4,321,249 population:

    Initial Participating EMS Agencies and Directors

    • Carolina Medical Center – MedCenter Air (Rock Hill) - Brian Sutton
    • Charleston - Don Lundy
    • Chesterfield (FirstHealth Regional) - Michael Hudson
    • Colleton - Barry McRoy
    • Darlington - Robbin Brock
    • Dorchester - Doug Warren
    • Florence - Ryon Watkins
    • Greenville - John Zaragoza
    • Horry - Garry Alderman
    • Laurens - Chad Burrell
    • Lee - Steven Scurry
    • Lexington - Brian Hood
    • Richland - Michael Byrd
    • Spartanburg - James Greene

    By the end of the second year, all counties will be reporting to PreMIS.

  • What is the Prehospital Medical Information System?

    PreMIS is a state mandated internet based EMS information system. Currently implemented in North Carolina, the system is in use by over 700 NC EMS agencies, 30,000 technicians and maintains an estimated 1,000,000 records per year. The PreMIS system provides a data entry and reporting capability for the evaluation of EMS patient care and system performance. PreMIS functions as an electronic medical record for Emergency Medical Services. Data collected and maintained within PreMIS provides valuable insight to identify, evaluate, and drive local and state EMS initiatives in areas such as education, operations, disaster planning, resource allocation, advocacy, policy, and finance.

  • What is the Credentialing Information System?

    The CIS database is used to monitor and provide credentials to EMS personnel, ambulances, and EMS agencies. Within CIS all EMS personnel’s education, credentials, disciplinary action and contact information is maintained. CIS is the registry for EMS Agency and Ambulance permit information. CIS is integrated with PreMIS and with other state data systems for disaster management needs. CIS is maintained and supported by the EMSPIC.

  • What is the EMS Toolkit Project?

    The EMS Toolkit Project is funded by The Duke Endowment to the SC DHEC, Division of EMS and Trauma and administered by the EMSPIC. The goal is to apply knowledge, data and experience to evaluate and improve EMS service delivery, personnel performance and clinical care. Special emphasis is placed on assisting local and state EMS agencies regardless of their knowledge or expertise in performance improvement. The EMS Toolkits are user friendly web-based reporting package and includes a series of reports analyzing important components of an EMS event. Suggestions for improvements (Interventions) are generated based on the Toolkit results. They are designed to assist EMS Systems in the measurement and improvement of performance over time. Areas of analysis include:

    • Local EMS System Delivery Performance
    • State EMS System Design and Evaluation
    • Acute Trauma Care
    • Cardiac Arrest Care
    • Acute Pediatric Care
    • Acute Cardiac Care (STEMI = ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction)
    • Acute Stroke Care
  • Who is involved in the Implementation of the South Carolina EMS Data System?
    • The Duke Endowment
    • The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, Division of EMS and Trauma
    • The EMS Performance Improvement Center
  • Who is The Duke Endowment?

    The Duke Endowment, located in Charlotte, N.C., seeks to fulfill the legacy of James B. Duke by improving lives and communities in the Carolinas through higher education, health care, rural churches and children’s services.

  • Who is The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, Division of EMS and Trauma?

    The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, Division of EMS and Trauma is the EMS regulatory agency for the state of South Carolina. South Carolina’s EMS System consists of over 245 EMS Agencies, 1100 ambulances and over 6,800 EMS personnel that provide care for the 600,000 EMS events that occur each year in South Carolina.

  • Who is the EMS Performance Improvement Center?

    The EMS Performance Improvement Center (EMSPIC) is located within Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Housed within the EMSPIC are several projects including the North Carolina Pre-Hospital Medical Information System (PreMIS), EMS Toolkit Project, the State Medical Asset Resource Tracking Tool (SMARTT) and the National EMS Information System (NEMSIS). The EMSPIC is strategically placed to provide a high level of Information Technology (IT) support and quality management expertise. The EMSPIC supports state, regional and local EMS service delivery from a patient care, resource allocation, and regulatory perspective.