The 2016 consensus document on emergency care for the general public during the pre-hospital phase and at the hospital

The 2007 consensus document for emergency medical care (Eckpunktepapier) has defined a framework for structure and planning. The increasing demands for emergency medical care for the general public require the 2007 consensus document for to be updated and expanded. The results of the revision are presented in this article. The draft of the new Eckpunktepapier was developed at a symposium with representatives of the associations, institutions, and organisations involved in emergency medical care and was presented at a plenary session. In order to define the exact terminology of technical terms, a glossary was issued. In a two-tiered consencus process the documents were circulated for revision and finally approved. Thirty specialist associations, institutions and organisations participated in the consensus, and the approval rate of 96.7 % mirrors a strong consensus. The Eckpunktepapier 2016 contains recommendations for structural planning and emergency medical procedures in accordance with the applicable guidelines, and the need for a adequate hospital. In addition to the current tracer diagnoses severe traumatic brain injury, stroke, severely injured multiple trauma, and ST- elevation myocardial infarction, additional recommendations have been included for sudden cardiac death and sepsis. The process quality of the dispatch centre, requirements for diagnosis and therapy by emergency physician/paramedics, tactical approaches and time management, initial emergency medical treatment in the field and at the adequate hospital, as well as quality management instruments have in turn been taken into consideration. Also, the special requirements of paediatric patients are presented. Furthermore, the paper includes essential recommendations for the first link in the rescue chain (risk assessment, first aid and the emergency call). The 2016 Consensus Paper takes into account the entire emergency medical process chain from the occurrence of the emergency and when the emergency call is received, the care of the emergency physician/paramedics, through to the continuation of treatment in hospital, and serves as a guideline for the integrated planning of access-oriented emergency medical care.