Emergency medical implementation of invasive, non-invasive and pharmacological measures in the German emergency medical services

A retrospective observational study in an emergency medical services area in central Germany

Abstract

Background: In Germany, there is a basic entitlement to emergency medical care. However, rising deployment figures and a shortage of specialists are jeopardizing the nationwide availability of emergency physicians. 

Methodology: From 01.01.2024 to 31.12.2024, the digitally recorded emergency operation logs from an emergency medical services area in central Germany were evaluated retrospectively using TAKWA report software and IBM SPSS Statistic Version 25.

Results: A total of N = 5,832 emergency response protocols were recorded and analyzed. Cardiovascular emergencies were the most common reason for emergency interventions in n = 1,063 (18.23%) cases. Myocardial infarction/ACS was the most frequently reported suspected diagnosis in n = 250 (4.27%) emergency response protocols. A total of 18,252 individual diagnostic measures, 1,881 individual invasive and non-invasive measures and 7,617 individual pharmacological measures were recorded. Pulse oximetry was recorded most frequently in n = 4,349 (74.57%) of the diagnostic measures, intravenous access in n = 1,851 (31.74%) of the invasive and non-invasive measures and the full electrolyte solution in n = 2,128 (27.94%) emergency response protocols.

Discussion: A few invasive, non-invasive and pharmacological measures are recorded for a large number of emergency medical interventions. Approximately 90% of these measures could be carried out independently by paramedics, as they learn them during their training. In this way, the emergency physician could be spared as an important resource, but the emergency paramedics' ability to act could also be strengthened.