Teleemergency doctor Münster: 1,000 missions successful in the first year!

Teleemergency doctor Münster: 1,000 missions successful in the first year!

The teleemergency doctor center in Münster has achieved remarkable successes in the first year of its existence, since it went into operation in June 2024. During this time, over 1,000 medical supports have been provided to ambulance crews in the region through the innovative system. The tele-emergency doctor Dr. Sabrina Raters plays a central role in this by supporting the emergency services from her position in the Münster fire department control center. Their use shows how the teleemergency doctor system provides emergency paramedics with medical expertise remotely, especially in life-threatening situations.

The Telenotarzt headquarters in Münster is one of the first of its kind in North Rhine-Westphalia and works in close cooperation with the Münsterland districts and the Münster University Hospital, as stadt-muenster.de explains. The more than 70 ambulances that are equipped with special technology in the districts of Borken, Coesfeld, Warendorf, Steinfurt, Recklinghausen and the city of Münster enable modern communication. Transmissions of images, sound and surveillance monitors from the vehicles to the control center ensure that quick and well-founded decisions can be made. This is particularly important when medical expertise is required but there is no emergency doctor on site.

Comprehensive expansion in North Rhine-Westphalia

The expansion of the teleemergency doctor system in North Rhine-Westphalia was initiated several years ago. On February 11, 2020, Health Minister Karl-Josef Laumann and other representatives signed a declaration of intent to expand the system across the board, which is expected to set up at least one teleemergency doctor location in every administrative district by the end of 2022, as reported country.nrw. The aim is to ensure that not every rescue service provider will need their own teleemergency center. The locations are determined based on common technical criteria in order to guarantee optimal care.

The implementation takes place gradually and in close coordination with the relevant actors. The first teleemergency doctor control center has already been set up in Aachen, and further systems are being planned in the Höxter, Lippe and Paderborn districts. A need for around 12 to 16 teleemergency doctor systems has been identified for North Rhine-Westphalia in order to significantly improve emergency care and ensure timely medical support.

An essential supplement system

The teleemergency doctor system is designed to complement the existing emergency doctor system and is intended to help increase the quality of care in emergencies. Digital healthcare, as developed by Dr. Hans-Albert Gehle from the Westphalia-Lippe Medical Association, offers the opportunity to make emergency care future-proof. Support from experienced medical professionals for decisions on medication dosage and transport is an important aspect that improves the operational capability of emergency services.

In summary, it can be said that the teleemergency doctor center in Münster and the planned nationwide expansion of the system throughout the state of North Rhine-Westphalia represent significant steps in the further development of emergency medicine. The progress that has been made so far shows the potential of this digital health innovation, which can not only save the lives of patients but also make the work of emergency responders much easier.