Freiburg University carries out a historic number of rescue operations
In 2024, emergency medical services (EMS) in Freiburg and the surrounding areas faced significant challenges, with increased deployment intensity and worsening framework conditions. This situation was attributed to a combination of workforce shortages, rising care demands, organizational challenges, and evolving systemic pressures on emergency healthcare provision.
One of the primary factors contributing to the increased deployment was the staff shortages and workforce challenges experienced by emergency departments and EMS. The lasting effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have exacerbated these issues, placing strain on available personnel and reducing capacity to handle increasing call volumes effectively.
Another factor driving the increase in EMS demand is the growing demographic changes, including an aging population with more complex health needs and chronic conditions. This, in turn, results in acute exacerbations requiring urgent care.
The nature of emergency calls is also becoming more complex, necessitating specialized medical care and multitasking capabilities by EMS personnel. The pressure to respond rapidly to a higher number of incidents further contributes to operational strain.
Structural and systemic barriers, such as siloed departmental operations, also hinder quality improvement and adaptation of EMS frameworks. Overcoming these organizational barriers requires strategic leadership and integrated approaches to implementation, which may currently be inadequate or in transition.
Environmental and external factors may also influence the health emergencies prevalent in the area, thereby increasing EMS demand. However, specific local environmental factors were not detailed in the report.
In 2024, the DRK district association Freiburg recorded over 51,000 ambulance deployments, with the crisis intervention team being deployed 164 times. Nearly 19,000 emergency physician deployments were also recorded. The deployment quality of ambulances remained high, with 93 percent of ambulances arriving at the scene within 15 minutes.
However, the emergency service's operations were impacted by worsening framework conditions and staff shortages. Due to staff shortages and delayed handoffs, emergency medical technicians had to stay with patients for longer periods. Delayed handoffs in clinics were also observed.
Despite these challenges, the emergency service played a central role in the medical emergency care of the region, according to the DRK's annual report for 2024. The DRK did not report any significant changes in the number of emergency physician deployments or the overall number of ambulance deployments in 2024 compared to earlier years. However, they did not report any new information about staff shortages in care facilities or their impact on the emergency service in 2024.
The increasing personnel challenges in emergency departments and EMS, often due to workforce shortages and the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, are driving the science of health-and-wellness to innovate and adapt, seeking ways to improve staff capacity and effectivity in managing rising call volumes related to medical-conditions. The evolving demographic landscape, with an aging population presenting more complex health needs, also contributes to the burden on EMS by requiring urgent care for acute exacerbations of chronic conditions.
