Planning Recommendations for International Emergency Medicine and Out‐of‐hospital Care System Development

Abstract

Abstract.Objectives: To present suggestions on planning for development of emergency medicine (EM) and out-of-hospital care in countries that are in an early phase of this process, and to provide basic background information for planners not already familiar with EM. Methods: The techniques and programs used by the authors and others in assisting in EM development in other countries to date are described. Conclusions: Some aspects of EM system development have applicability to most countries, but other aspects must be decided by planners based on country-specific factors. Because of the very recent initiation of many EM system development efforts in other countries, to the authors' knowledge there have not yet been extensive evaluative reports of the efficacy of these efforts. Further studies are needed on the relative effectiveness and cost-benefit of different EM development efforts. Key words: emergency medicine development; international emergency medicine; system development; EMS systems. ACA-DEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE 2000; 7:911-917 T HE specialty of emergency medicine (EM) is only now beginning to develop in a number of countries throughout the world, and in fact is a relatively new specialty even in countries where it is currently well established. For countries considering developing EM and for those just starting this process, to our knowledge there have not been previously published planning recommendations The goal of this article is to present general recommendations for development planning for the specialty of EM 1 that would be applicable to any country considering, or having already started, this specialty. We suggest sequential steps that can be considered by planners interested in developing EM and out-of-hospital care [or emergency medical services (EMS) systems] within any country. Our intended audience includes policy makers, government officials, and educators who may not necessarily already be familiar with EM as a specialty.Our suggestions are based on our collective experience involving assistance with EM system development in more than 20 countries. We acknowledge and emphasize that the content of this article is based solely on our experience, and the results of our development efforts to date have not been validated by published research studies. However, we hope that this paper will be useful in assisting and facilitating EM development in other countries and make the initial process easier and quicker for those involved. We also hope that this article will help planners avoid some of the mistakes and pitfalls that occurred during EM development in INTERNATIONAL EMHolliman et al.• EM DEVELOPMENT RECOMMENDATIONS countries where the specialty is now well established. Our interest in EM system development stems from a desire to promote optimum emergency patient care and quality EM clinical training programs, and not from a desire to promote any particular medical or cultural system. Not all of the features or considerations mentioned here will be applicable to, or adoptable by, all c...

History of the development of international emergency medicine

“…There are also a number of reasons for recent increasing interest in developing EM within other countries [5,6,9]. These include the general overall medical system improvement in most countries.…”

“…There has been a recent awakening by many countries that they should develop EM as a specialty [1][2][3][4][5][6]. EM in the United States, the United Kingdom, and a few other countries has fully matured as a specialty and thus acts as an example for EM development in other countries [7].…”

The Search for Common Ground: Developing Emergency Medicine in Iran

“…Meanwhile, giving a higher priority for physicians' funding allocations and softening outright opposition from the other medical specialties would improve the stability of clinical and teaching staff positions. 26,27 …”

Hot topics in international emergency medicine

“…A formal prehospital provider system is generally nonexistent, particularly outside urban centers [31]. In locations where an emergency medical system (EMS) exists, the training of personnel is variable.…”