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Evolution of Rescue Systems: A Comparison between Cologne and Cleveland

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 June 2012

Alex Lechleuthner ,
Charles Emerman ,
Andreas Dauber ,
Bertil Bouillon  and
John A. Kubincanek
Alex Lechleuthner*
Affiliation:
Department of Surgery, University of Cologne, City Hospital Koeln-Merheim, Cologne, Germany
Charles Emerman
Affiliation:
MetroHealth Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
Andreas Dauber
Affiliation:
Department of Surgery, University of Cologne, City Hospital Koeln-Merheim, Cologne, Germany
Bertil Bouillon
Affiliation:
Department of Surgery, University of Cologne, City Hospital Koeln-Merheim, Cologne, Germany
John A. Kubincanek
Affiliation:
MetroHealth Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
*
City Hospital Koeln-Merheim, II. Department of Surgery, University of Cologne, Ostmerheimerstr 200, 5000 Koeln 91, Germany
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Abstract

Introduction:

Comparisons of different emergency medical services (EMS) systems often are reduced to simple comparisons between distinct facilities or strategies (e.g., prehospital physician versus paramedic, “scoop and run” versus “stay and play”).

Methods:

The EMS systems of similar cities (Cologne and Cleveland) in two different countries (Germany and the United States) are compared. The comparison is seen from the perspective of an evolutionary standpoint that reflects the development of the EMS system in connection with the special environments. Data on rescue times, facilities, and (trauma) outcomes are compared.

Results:

No statistically significant differences in outcome between the systems were detected.

Conclusion:

Both systems are developed in special environments and are optimized over decades, which explains the similarities in outcome.

Keywords

adaptationClevelandColognecomparison Germany/United Statesconvergenceemergency medical servicesemergency medical services systemsevolutionrescue chaintrauma outcome
Type
Special Report
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 9 , Issue 3 , September 1994 , pp. 193 - 197
Copyright
Copyright © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 1994

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