Specialist medical training in emergency medicine: development of a comprehensive further training curriculum for Germany

Abstract

Emergency admission facilities in German hospitals, previously referred to as “first aid” or “emergency departments”, have evolved over the past 20 years into high-performance areas and are increasingly being designated as emergency centers or departments of emergency medicine. Concurrently, the requirements for the quality of care and the qualifications of medical personnel have significantly increased. While many European countries have established a dedicated 5‑year specialist training program for emergency medicine, Germany currently provides only a 2-year additional training program (supraspecialty), which follows (different) 5‑year clinical training programs not primarily focused on emergency medicine and thus falls short of international standards. Based on a systematic analysis of national and international further training regulations (including best practice models) as well as the recommendations of the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS), a competence-oriented curriculum has been developed. This curriculum specifically addresses the unique requirements in Germany and serves as a foundation for a specialist qualification in emergency medicine. The curriculum comprises 174 cognitive, methodological and practice-oriented competencies intended to be acquired over a 5-year further training period with specific rotations. It ensures a comprehensive qualification in clinical emergency medicine. The introduction of an independent specialist qualification in emergency medicine meets the future demands for high-quality care in departments of emergency medicine in hospitals and will contribute to increasing the attractiveness of emergency medicine as a profession, along with international recognition. The curriculum provides a solid foundation for the discussion on the introduction of this specialist training in Germany.