Discussion paper: implications for the further development of the successfully in emergency medicine implemented AUD2IT-algorithm

Abstract

The AUD2IT-algorithm is a tool to structure the data, which is collected during an emergency treatment. The goal is on the one hand to structure the documentation of the data and on the other hand to give a standardised data structure for the report during handover of an emergency patient. AUD2IT-algorithm was developed to provide residents a documentation aid, which helps to structure the medical reports without getting lost in unimportant details or forgetting important information. The sequence of anamnesis, clinical examination, considering a differential diagnosis, technical diagnostics, interpretation and therapy is rather an academic classification than a description of the real workflow. In a real setting, most of these steps take place simultaneously. Therefore, the application of the AUD2IT-algorithm should also be carried out according to the real processes. A big advantage of the AUD2IT-algorithm is that it can be used as a structure for the entire treatment process and also is entirely usable as a handover protocol within this process to make sure, that the existing state of knowledge is ensured at each point of a team-timeout. PR-E-(AUD2IT)-algorithm makes it possible to document a treatment process that, in principle, does not have to be limited to the field of emergency medicine. Also, in the outpatient treatment the PR-E-(AUD2IT)-algorithm could be used and further developed. One example could be the preparation and allocation of needed resources at the general practitioner. The algorithm is a standardised tool that can be used by healthcare professionals of any level of training. It gives the user a sense of security in their daily work.