Interaction of emergency medical services and the emergency department - Challenges in the acute care of seriously ill or injured patients

The needs of seriously ill or injured patients issue a challenge to the Emergency Department in terms of personnel, premises and organization. The acute and often interdisciplinary care necessitates optimal surrounding conditions and a stringent coordination of each single step in the in-hospital setting. Many emergencies are time-critical, thus requiring the immediate initiation of diagnostic and first therapeutic measures with respect to the in-hospital interfaces. This review article describes the structural and organizational prerequisites of the appropriate management of seriously sick and injured patients in the Emergency Department. It also focuses on the interdisciplinary cooperation with other specialties during the initial resuscitation ("team approach") as well as during the ongoing clinical course.