Logistische Aspekte in der Notfallmedizin beim alten Menschen

Abstract

Due to demographic changes and aging it will be necessary to focus on logistic requirements of emergency medicine for the elderly. The most important aspects of an integrated planning and reorganization of emergency medicine along the chain of survival are highlighted. The importance of continuous data sampling as a task for public health research is emphasized. New strategies for the prevention and automated detection of emergencies at home and the possibilities of telemedicine are reviewed. Furthermore the central role of public emergency dispatch centers and their widened scope with a new spectrum of emergency missions are discussed. Psychosocial calls and calls in palliative care situations are particularly challenging for emergency medical services and physicians. Finally the utmost importance of interdisciplinary emergency departments along with the still under represented acute geriatric departments is stressed. © 2011 Springer-Verlag.