Wir überwinden Grenzen

The Medical Center - University of Freiburg supports emergency medical care in the city and region in cooperation with the German Red Cross

In an emergency, seconds count, which is why it is important that an emergency doctor reaches the patient as quickly as possible. In Baden Württemberg, they must arrive at the scene within 15 minutes at the latest. In order to further improve care for people in Freiburg, another emergency doctor base has been created: since April 1, 2016, the Medical Center - University of Freiburg has been home to an emergency doctor vehicle (NEF). The physicians are provided by the University Emergency Center and the Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care at the Medical Center - University of Freiburg, while the vehicle and specially trained drivers come from the German Red Cross (DRK) Freiburg. The NEF at the Medical Center - University of Freiburg will initially be staffed from Monday to Friday from 8 am to 7 pm.

"As the number of emergency doctor call-outs per year is continuously increasing, it is important for the medical care of people in Freiburg to have access to several emergency doctors," says Prof. Dr. Norbert Südkamp, Managing Director of the University Emergency Center - University of Freiburg. "It is very important to us that the people of Freiburg can also benefit from our expertise and experience from university medicine locally," says Prof. Südkamp. Wolfgang Schäfer-Mai, Board of Directors of the German Red Cross Freiburg, also emphasizes the importance of the new emergency doctor base: "With the third emergency doctor system in Freiburg, we have taken an important step towards better emergency medical care and we are pleased to have gained a competent partner in the Medical Center - University of Freiburg."

The main emergency doctor station in Freiburg is attached to St. Josef's Hospital. There are two emergency ambulances there. With the new NEF from the University Hospital, the number of emergency ambulances has now been increased to three. Operations are still coordinated by the Freiburg Integrated Control Center (ILS), which can be reached by calling 112. The catchment area extends from Gundelfingen, Glottertal and Schallstadt in a north-south direction to Kirchzarten, St. Peter, Hofsgrund and the Tuniberg in an east-west direction. It covers around 240,000 inhabitants. "Last year, well over 7,000 emergency doctor call-outs were carried out in this area," says Dr. Frank Koberne, Medical Director of Freiburg Rescue Service.

Background: What does an emergency doctor team do?
Together with a specially trained driver, the emergency doctor forms an emergency ambulance crew. During the journey, the emergency doctor and the driver are responsible for navigation and radio communications with the rescue coordination center. At the scene of the emergency, the emergency doctor's task is to provide first aid to emergency patients together with the rescue service personnel. This includes restoring and maintaining life-threatening vital functions such as breathing and heartbeat. As soon as a patient is fit for transport, they are transported to the nearest suitable hospital under continuous monitoring and continuation of therapy measures (e.g. ventilation). The emergency doctor is requested by the rescue coordination center in addition to the ambulance in the event of immediate vital threats, cardiac arrest, heart attack, serious accidents, severe bleeding, poisoning, strokes and drowning accidents.

Caption: Great joy about the new emergency doctor base for Freiburg at the Medical Center - University of Freiburg: PD Dr. Hans-Jörg Busch, Philipp Käufer, Ralf Götz, Dr. Frank Koberne, Wolfgang Schäfer-Mai, Dr. Thorsten Hammer, Prof. Dr. Norbert Südkamp, Dr. Johannes Kalbhenn, Dr. Jörg Bayer (from left to right).
Image rights: Patrick Seeger/ Medical Center - University of Freiburg

Contact:
Prof. Dr. Norbert Südkamp
Medical Director
Department of Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery
Medical Center - University of Freiburg
Phone: 0761 270-26990
norbert.suedkamp@uniklinik-freiburg.de