Two-year pilot phase of community paramedics in the region of Oldenburg (Lower Saxony): A retrospective cross-sectional study about the experiences of the staff.

ABSTRACT

Background: Due to the changes in demographics and morbidity, the demand for emergency medical services (EMS) in Germany continues to rise, which requires further enhancement of acute care structures especially between the sectors of outpatient and inpatient care. Therefore, the concept of the community paramedic (in German "Gemeindenotfallsanitater" [G-NFS]) was introduced in 2019 in the region of Oldenburg, Germany, as part of a pilot project with scientific supervision. Method(s) In this mixed-methods study, online focus group interviews (participation of 56.7% of all G-NFS) were conducted with all four regional groups of G-NFS (city of Oldenburg and the districts of Vechta, Cloppenburg, and Ammerland). In addition, a short online survey (participation of 53.3% of all G-NFS) was carried out with the same interviewees. The interviews and the online survey focused on the personal experiences of the G-NFS before and during the corona pandemic. The interview findings were analyzed based on thematic coding and subsequent evaluation. Result(s) In all, 17 G-NFS participated in the interviews, and 16 G-NFS took part in the survey. According to the G-NFS, the EMS system (so far based on non-urgent and urgent care ambulances) is complemented by the G-NFS with a useful and skilled resource, which offers the necessary relief for urgent care ambulances. The indispensable cross-sectional collaboration with other services works target-oriented and efficiently but differs depending on the local setting. The same applies to the collaboration with the responsible dispatch centers. In addition, the G-NFS was dispatched to triage patients during the corona pandemic peaks and eased the burden on the overall EMS system in the region. Conclusion(s) The G-NFS who participated believe that the concept has thus far in the project phase proven to be very useful. Based on the present experiences and results, the concept can be further developed. Copyright © 2022, The Author(s).