An ambulatory service staffed with military physicians in a rural district. Experiences from a period of 6 years
Laursen, S.B.; Gøtze, H.
Ugeskrift for Laeger 159(48): 7145-7149
1997
ISSN/ISBN: 0041-5782 PMID: 9417721 Document Number: 481685
A local rendez-vous arrangement is described retrospectively in which the medical officer on duty at the infirmary, Oksbøl military camp participated in the ambulance service and the prehospital treatment of acutely ill patients. The military ambulance supports the civilian ambulance service in the municipality of Blåvandshuk, Western Jutland. This arrangement was carried out in 430 cases and 399 patients were brought to hospital. More than 14% of the services did not result in transportation. Forty-seven percent of the services were due to accidents and 30% to illness. In 16% of all cases the response-time was less than five minutes. All the patients were classified according to the Oksbøl-score. Injuries were diagnosed in 48% and cardiovascular disease in 19%. Sixty-seven percent were treated immediately by the military ambulance. This arrangement has improved the prehospital treatment of acutely ill patients by using pre-existing resources from a military camp. We propose further cooperation between civilian health authorities and the Danish Armed Forces' Health Services when planning the prehospital services.