Disaster management training in the euregio-meuse-rhine: What can we learn from each other to improve cross-border practices?

Paquay, Méryl; Chevalier, Sabrina; Sommer, A.; Ledoux, Céline; Gontariuk, Marie; Beckers, Stefan; Auwermeulen, Loth Van der; Krafft, Thomas; Ghuysen, Alexandre

doi:10.1016/j.ijdrr.2021.102134

Cited by 14 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…2, p. 35]. In the EMR, close cooperation is needed due to the shared regional challenges and opportunities defined by the geographical specifics, as well as economic and financial settings and interdependencies ( 10 , 11 ). For our study, we particularly analyzed the EMR in regard to a cooperation between the several German, Dutch, and Belgian municipalities, counties, and health districts bundled together in this cross-border area.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…7, p. 219]. In the EMR, cross-border collaboration has evolved during the last decades as a long-lasting relationship among the relevant key stakeholders in public safety, and especially, in the field of EMS and IHT, collaboration is exercised as a daily routine ( 10 , 11 ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The cross-border collaboration in the EMR (also through EMRIC) prior to the pandemic is perceived as well-functioning and based on solid foundations (ID 1,4,6,11,16). Several respondents refer to various general agreements concerning cross-border collaboration that are in place, in addition to more specific agreements around fire protection, EMS or disaster management (ID 4,5,8,9,11). Further agreements between municipalities exist in certain border regions.…”

Section: Cross-border Collaboration Before the Covid-19 Pandemicmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Due to the EMR's characteristics, based on its geography, laws, languages, cultures, and economies, Euregional agreements, such as in healthcare, ease the collaboration between the relevant national actors. EMS and hospitals in the region are dependent on a well-functioning cross-border collaboration, though national borders remain an obstacle in the continuous development of the EMR ( 9 – 11 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Impacts and Lessons Learned of the First Three COVID-19 Waves on Cross-Border Collaboration in the Field of Emergency Medical Services and Interhospital Transports in the Euregio-Meuse-Rhine: A Qualitative Review of Expert Opinions

Sommer

Rehbock

Vos

et al. 2022

Front. Public Health

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BackgroundIn the Euregio-Meuse-Rhine (EMR), cross-border collaboration is essential for resource-saving and needs-based patient care within the emergency medical service (EMS) systems and interhospital transport (IHT). However, at the onset of the novel coronavirus SARS-COV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic, differing national measures highlighted the fragmentation within the European Union (EU) in its various approaches to combating the pandemic. To assess the consequences of the pandemic in the EMR border area, the aim of this study was to analyze the effects and “lessons learned” regarding cross-border collaboration in EMS and IHT.MethodA qualitative study with 22 semi-structured interviews was carried out. Experts from across the EMR area, including the City of Aachen, the City region of Aachen, the District of Heinsberg (Germany), South Limburg (The Netherlands), and the Province of Limburg, as well as Liège (Belgium), took part. The interviews were coded and analyzed according to changes in cross-border collaboration before and during the pandemic, as well as lessons learned and recommendations.ResultsEach EU member country within the EMR area, addressed the pandemic individually with national measures. Cross-border collaboration between regional actors was hardly or not at all addressed at the national level during political decision- or policymaking. Previous direct communication at the personal level was replaced by national procedures, which made regular cross-border collaboration significantly more difficult. The cross-border transfer regulations of patients with COVID-19 proved to be complex and led, among other things, to patients being transported to hospitals far outside the border region. Collaboration continues to be seen as valuable and Euregional emergency services including hospitals work well together, albeit to different degrees. The information and data exchange should, however, be more transparent to use resources more efficiently.ConclusionEffective Euregional collaboration of emergency services is imperative for public safety in a multi-border region with strong economic, cultural, and social cross-border links. Our findings indicate that existing (pre-pandemic) structures which included regular meetings of senior managerial staff in the region and a number of thematic working groups were helpful to deal with and to compensate for the disruptions during the crisis. Regional cross-border agreements that are currently based on mutual but more or less informal arrangements need to be formalized and better promoted and recognized also at the national and EU level to increase resilience. The continuous determination of synergies and good and best practices are further approaches to support cross-border collaboration especially in preparation for future crises.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Cross-border Collaboration Before the Covid-19 Pandemicmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Impacts and Lessons Learned of the First Three COVID-19 Waves on Cross-Border Collaboration in the Field of Emergency Medical Services and Interhospital Transports in the Euregio-Meuse-Rhine: A Qualitative Review of Expert Opinions

Sommer

Rehbock

Vos

et al. 2022

Front. Public Health

Self Cite

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show abstract

“…EMRIC, the cross-border centre for incident control and crisis management, brings together first responders in the cross-border region. 3 These lines of communication and cooperation between regional authorities may well have saved lives during the latest disaster. More should be done to strengthen initiatives like EMRIC, and we should consider founding new ones that specialize in climate adaptation and pandemic preparedness.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%