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patient care

Paramedics in prehospital emergency medical systems across Europe

05 September 2011
Features
02 September 2011
Volume 1 · Issue 1

Abstract

Emergency medical services (EMS) vary across Europe, with two predominant models: the Anglo-American model which uses mainly paramedics in a prehospital setting, where ‘the patient goes to the doctor’; and the Franco-German model which uses mainly physicians in a prehospital setting, where ‘the doctor goes to the patient’. No perfect model exists, and each country has an EMS model based upon the needs of the community and the available economic resources. This overview shows that the EMS in Europe are modern, efficient and structured in the same way. The dispatch centre, the means and the response times are similar; the biggest differences concern the personnel who staff ambulances and their training, although they all have to perform the same emergency procedures and manage similar types of patient. The role of emergency medical technicians (EMT) is vital in all prehospital EMS systems. However, the training of EMT with equal skills is very different, with great variations as a function of each country. European harmonization appears to be necessary, even if it seems difficult.

The Emergency Medical Services (EMS) vary across Europe, with two predominant models: the Anglo-American model, which uses mainly paramedics in a prehospital setting, where ‘the patient goes to the doctor’, and the Franco-German model, which uses mainly physicians in a prehospital setting, where ‘the doctor goes to the patient’ (Fleischmann and Fulde, 2007). Despite the controversies about these two models, no comparative study exists to demonstrate the superiority of one model over the other. The model for each country depends on its history, its culture, the needs of its community and its economic resources (Arnold, 1999; Dick, 2003; Fleischmann and Fulde, 2007; Wigman et al, 2010).

The goal of an EMS is to decrease morbidity and mortality associated with medical and traumatic emergencies by several means, including early detection of urgent situations, early responses with appropriate means, and care on scene and during transport to a facility with appropriate personnel. All these methods are aimed at preserving life, preventing and not aggravating injuries, and promoting recovery (Arnold, 1999; Dick, 2003; Fleischmann and Fulde, 2007; Wigman et al, 2010).

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