Mayo One medical helicopter

Overview

The Research on EMS and Systems Quality Laboratory led by Sarayna S. McGuire, M.D., M.S., advances the science of prehospital and emergency care delivery. The lab accomplishes this through rigorous, data-driven research focused on improving patient outcomes across the continuum of care.

The lab conducts multidisciplinary research at the intersection of emergency medical services (EMS), healthcare delivery science and systems engineering. This research is often conducted in partnership with Mayo Clinic Ambulance Service. The lab's work centers on understanding how prehospital care, operational decisions and out-of-hospital system-level factors influence outcomes in time-sensitive and high-risk conditions. This includes urban, rural and civilian environments.

In collaboration with private and federal partners, and Mayo Clinic Military Medicine, the lab also evaluates emergency care delivery and emerging technologies in austere and resource-constrained settings. This includes research on prolonged field care, remote communications, drone use, telemedicine, remote monitoring, and the feasibility and effectiveness of novel diagnostics and therapeutics in prehospital and military operational environments. These efforts support translation of military and austere care innovations into civilian EMS systems and vice versa.

The lab aims to generate actionable evidence that informs clinical practice, optimizes out-of-hospital and prehospital system performance, and strengthens integration between prehospital and hospital-based care.

Focus areas include:

  • Prehospital care and patient outcomes.
  • EMS systems quality and performance measurement.
  • EMS clinician support and wellness.
  • Workplace violence and safety.
  • Innovation in healthcare delivery, automation and artificial intelligence.
  • Data linkage between prehospital and hospital systems.
  • Evidence synthesis in collaboration with Mayo Clinic's Evidence-Based Practice Research Program.
  • Emergency care delivery and medical innovation in austere and military operational environments.