Medical personnel now granted broadened authorization
In a significant development for emergency medical services, the Pforzheim DRK district association in Baden-Württemberg has authorised its emergency paramedics to administer pain-relieving medication before the arrival of a doctor. This policy change, one of the first of its kind among German Red Cross district associations, is an important step towards better emergency care, according to emergency physician Lutz Zöller-Theoharidis.
Previously, only doctors could administer such medication due to legal reasons. With the implementation of pre-delegation, emergency paramedics will now be able to provide optimal therapy earlier, reducing delays in emergency treatment caused by the separate arrival of ambulance and doctor's vehicle.
Emergency physician Lutz Zöller-Theoharidis, the medical responsible person for emergency services at the DRK district association Pforzheim-Enzkreis, is tasked with checking the knowledge of the corresponding medication among emergency paramedics and certifying its administration to patients.
The practice of allowing emergency paramedics to administer pain-relieving medication is based on a decision by the state committee for emergency services. Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Kramer, the local district association president, has contributed significantly to the concept as the state doctor of DRK Baden-Württemberg.
It is important to note that this authorisation is given as a "pre-delegation" to emergency paramedics. The change in policy is specific to the Pforzheim DRK district association in Baden-Württemberg, but may be expanding nationwide. However, nationwide implementation of this policy has been somewhat cautious so far.
The change in policy does not involve advertisements, nor is it related to phone and contact details or appointment information. Medical resources can be allocated more targeted with the implementation of pre-delegation.
While this authorisation is currently limited to the Pforzheim DRK district association, the competencies of emergency paramedics are fully utilised with the implementation of pre-delegation, according to Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Kramer. The change in policy is an archived post on the website, meaning any related phone and contact details or appointment information provided may no longer be current.
This change in policy aims to provide faster and more effective emergency care, marking a significant shift in the role of emergency paramedics in Germany.
