The KnowEMS initiative hosted a webinar focused on “Patient Safety in Emergency Medical Services (EMS)”, bringing together experts from Portugal, Spain, and Israel to share best practices for improving safety in prehospital care. Moderated by João Nunes (INEM, Portugal), the session highlighted the growing need for structured safety systems and cultural change within EMS organizations.
1. Patient Safety Challenges in Prehospital Care
Speakers emphasized the unique risks of prehospital environments, including time pressure, unpredictable settings, limited resources, and complex decision-making. These factors increase the likelihood of adverse events, making tailored safety strategies essential.
2. Governance and Safety Systems
Portugal’s INEM presented its governance model, featuring patient safety and infection prevention committees, standardized procedures, and incident reporting systems. Madrid’s SAMUR-PC showcased its SINASEP framework, which promotes transparency, learning from errors, and continuous quality improvement. Magen David Adom (Israel) contributed insights on system-level resilience and lessons learned from real-world emergencies.
3. Infection Prevention and Control (IPC)
The webinar stressed IPC as a cornerstone of patient and provider safety. Best practices include proper PPE use, equipment decontamination, and ongoing staff education.
4. Building a Culture of Safety
Speakers agreed that safety depends not only on protocols but on organizational culture. Open communication, non-punitive incident reporting, staff engagement, and continuous training were identified as critical for fostering trust and improvement.
The webinar reinforced that patient safety in EMS is not optional—it is a strategic requirement for operational excellence and public trust. By sharing best practices and fostering a culture of safety, European and international EMS organizations can deliver safer, more reliable care.