Interdisciplinary Emergency Care System in a Medium Sized City: Evaluation of 3,997 Cases Over a Four Year Period

Abstract

In 1978 an emergency medical system was established to provide extensive, on the spot treatment for medical emergencies and traffic accidents in Münster. It was designed, like other systems (17,21,23,25,31,34) to treat all types of medical emergencies, although it was initially thought that victims of traffic accidents would predominate. The system covers the city of Münster, which is the capital of Westphalia (see Figure 1) and has a population of 270,000 plus its neighboring communities. Thus, the service provides for 300,000 people over a 20 mile circle in diameter. This area has a low percentage of blue collar workers due to a lack of industry, as Münster is mainly an academic, administrative and business center.