Using systems performance data for ambulance management.

The ambulance service is an important component in the emergency medical system of a community. The availability of performance information on several aspects of the ambulance system may improve ambulance management. The location of new ambulance stations, selection of the destination hospital for urgent cases, scheduling of crew changes, and evaluation of crew performance can be approached through an examination of existing data. Management use of such an information system by the Victorian Civil Ambulance Service in Melbourne, Australia is included in the discussion.