THE COMPLEXITY OF COMPARING DIFFERENT EMS SYSTEMS - A SURVEY OF EMS SYSTEMS IN EUROPE

Study of the differences and similarities of European EMS systems results in many conclusions and recommendations. Emergency medical care is widely accepted in all European countries but implemented differently in individual countries. The wide range of EMS models is a reflection of the marked sociocultural, geographic, political, and religious differences between and within European countries. In most European countries, the medical involvement and medical presence in the field are most important, whether it is the first tier as in Eastern European countries or the second tier as in several Western European countries. However, in a few countries, specific qualifications and training are required for participating physicians, and the specialty of emergency medicine does not exist. To interpret the performance of the EMS systems in European countries, a detailed description of the system is required. Performance data, which are limited in Scandinavia, the United Kingdom, The Netherlands, and Belgium, are hard to compare. The Utstein template style for uniform reporting of data on cardiac arrest and an equivalent method of reporting data on other medical emergencies could be proposed as a guideline to describe individual EMS systems. There is an urgent need for coordination and uniformity of the various aspects of emergency medical care in Europe, including registration, medical coordination, and medical regulations. The European Resuscitation Council is involved in developing and implementing a standardized European format for reporting CPR interventions.