[An ambulance manned by physicians--a different model].

Abstract

An arrangement is described in which the general practitioners on duty participate in the ambulance service and the prehospital treatment of acutely ill patients. This arrangement has been followed prospectively for one year and was utilized in 141 cases. Approximately 40% of the cases involved cardiac patients and the remainder consisted of a varied assortment of other diagnoses. Attempts were made to resuscitate 11 patients with cardiac arrest and two of these could be discharged alive from hospital after admission. It is concluded that this arrangement is feasable as a means of improving the prehospital treatment of acutely ill patients but that it should be supplemented by increased efforts in training the population in resuscitation. In addition, it is concluded that the function of the alarm central was not optimal as half of the alarms came via the doctor on duty instead.