Research project

Evidence-based outpatient care pathways through the emergency medical services

According to figures from the Swiss emergency medical services for 2024, more than 25% of all calls—over 100,000—are classified as non-urgent or non-life-threatening and do not actually require hospitalization. Nevertheless, due to poor networking, organizational hurdles, and a lack of framework conditions, the majority of emergency calls to “144” currently result in transport to the hospital. This situation is often stressful and risky, especially for older people. People with chronic illnesses, whose numbers are rising sharply due to demographic change, are therefore creating a need for change in emergency care.

Objective: The joint project “Preclinical Specialists” by Rettung St.Gallen AG and the University of Applied Sciences of Eastern Switzerland aims to improve emergency care for the aging population in Switzerland. By implementing “Preclinical Specialists”, specially trained rescue workers will be able to solve problems on site and offer better care. This will help reduce costs for patients and the burden on hospitals, while improving the quality of life for older people in particular by allowing them to remain in their familiar surroundings.

This project aims to develop the following service for non-life-threatening emergencies in the emergency medical services:

“The right resource, with the right care at the right time” -

“Getting the right ambulance to the right patient at the right time”

Folgende zentrale Fragestellung wird im Projekt verfolgt:

“What impact does the implementation of PFS have on patients with non-life-threatening illnesses and injuries in terms of improving the quality of care and avoiding unnecessary hospitalizations?”

Partner:

Age Foundation, OST, St. Gallen Rescue Service

Back

Sprache

Evidence-based outpatient care pathways through the emergency medical services

Team:

Florian Zahorka

Prof. Dr. Christoph Strauss

Pia Bünzli