This video is about a program called Reducing Avoidable Conveyances Improvement Programme (RACIP) designed to reduce the number of unnecessary patient transports by ambulance to the emergency department (ED). The speakers in the video were Tom from East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS), Sally Ellse, Martin Coleman and Chris Howley.
The challenges they faced in implementing RACIP included:
- Gaining buy-in from staff across the organization
- Encouraging staff to change their behavior and overcome their risk aversion to confidently discharge patients on scene when appropriate
- Identifying the root causes of why unnecessary transports were happening
Some of the solutions included:
- Breaking down RACIP into four work streams:
- Working with system partners to reduce avoidable calls to 999
- Developing pathways to ensure that crews are equipped to make the most effective decisions for patients
- Building staff confidence in using the pathways
- Engaging with citizens to change their perceptions of what the ambulance service is and how it can support them
- Creating an Alternative Pathway Ambassadors Network to spread awareness and encourage the use of the pathways
- Implementing a new coaching approach called the ECHO Leadership Model to help staff understand their performance and identify areas for improvement
