The World Health Organization Model Trauma System Policy suggests that Governments should undertake systematic reviews of the de facto prehospital transport systems for severely ill and injured persons. These systems, be they formal or informal, should be designed to optimize local resources with emphasis on standards of training, equipment, infrastructure and communications so as to assure delivery of prompt, quality, and equitable prehospital care. Scope of Review and Assessment a System Assessment and Gap Analysis (SAGA) tool has been developed to measure 127 key components of a high performance emergency transport system within the realms of Clinical, Organizational and Logistical functionality. The evaluation compares the current status of the specific components with those commonly expected to be seen in a formal international accredited EMS organization.

The tool utilizes a thorough investigative process sufficient to produce credible and practical data which can be used to form a “System Improvement Plan.” While the scope of the project can be seen as relatively broad, the assessment process allows for adaptation to a wide variety of EMS system models which bring specific focus to the greatest areas of improvement opportunity with practical applications and alignment with those resources which are available to a given governmental entity.

This abstract, (in both oral and poster presentation format), demonstrates a portional mock evaluation with focus on those components often overlooked by both evolving and mature formal system designs by the international EMS community. The SAGA approach is an invaluable tool for those responsible for integrating the functionality and needs of a broad range of stake holders into the overarching prehospital delivery system in building support for qualitative improvements.