Pen-computing assisted documentation resulted in superior quality of data recorded in emergency medical files. This increase in information may be ascribed to the integrated check for completeness of data. The described new documentation system, therefore, enhances the processing quality in prehospital emergency medicine. Further developments of the documentation system should concentrate on tools while reducing the workload of the emergency physician.

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A large proportion of the population were found to be ignorant about the telephone numbers for medical emergency calls and the different functions of the ÄBD and emergency physicians within the EMS. Moreover, our results indicate that a significant percentage of the population would neither be in a position to recognize a stroke or myocardial infarction in an emergency situation nor be informed enough to communicate with the correct part of the emergency system. The association of these deficits with the time elapsed since the last first aid course should be reason enough to continuously motivate the population, especially at risk patients and their relatives, to repeat such courses several times. Furthermore, digital media should be used more intensively in providing first aid instructions. In our opinion, this study clearly shows that in Germany a uniform number for medical emergency calls is mandatory.