European journal of emergency medicine : official journal of the European Society for Emergency Medicine
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Comparative Study
Understanding the prehospital physician controversy. Step 1: comparing competencies of ambulance nurses and prehospital physicians.
In many European countries prehospital care by emergency medical services (EMS) is supplemented by physician-staffed services. There is ongoing controversy on the benefits of a prehospital physician. Possible advantages are additional competencies of the physician. Similarities and differences in competencies of EMS providers and physicians have however never been studied. This study aims to compare competencies of ambulance nurses and helicopter EMS physicians in the Netherlands to gain better insight into the controversy of the prehospital physician. ⋯ The ambulance nurse and physician have various mutual competencies. In addition, the physician can provide specific competencies on the scene. Knowing the exact overlap and differences in competencies is the first step to understand the prehospital physician controversy. Our results can be used as a tool for the next step in research on prehospital care by EMS providers and physicians and to improve prehospital care.
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Comparative Study
How aware are Belgian permanent and resident emergency physicians of common medical costs and radiation doses?
To establish how aware Belgian emergency physicians are of common treatment costs and radiation doses. ⋯ Emergency doctors, whether permanent physicians or resident physicians, have a limited knowledge of both costs and radiation doses of investigations and treatments they prescribe every day.