Ärztliche Leitungen Rettungsdienst in Deutschland: Struktur, Verantwortung, Selbstwahrnehmung

Background: Medical directors of emergency medical services (ÄLRD) are responsible for the overall professional conception of prehospital patient care as well as for medical quality management. Treatment quality and patient safety depend on their effectiveness and on how they are structurally integrated. Methods: An online survey of approximately 240 medical directors of emergency medical services in Germany yielded 107 usable data sets from 12 federal states. Results: Participants are predominantly responsible for a single district. The integration of these medical directors into administrative bodies is highly heterogeneous, as are their employment status, scope of work, and responsibilities. Conclusion: Medical directors are insufficiently involved in central processes such as personnel management, budget responsibility, and dispatch center control. Overall, the results reveal structural weaknesses and inconsistent responsibilities.