Germany Launches First Community Paramedic Program

Pictured: Professional fire brigade of the city of Oldenburg, German Red Cross Cloppenburg, Malteser Hilfsdienst gGmbH city of Oldenburg and district of Vechta and rescue service Ammerland GmbH.

On March 9, 2018, 25 paramedics began their training as community paramedics, which is unique in Germany. During the three coming months, the colleagues will be intensively preparing for their new task, which starts on January 1, 2019. In addition to the qualification as emergency paramedics, all employees had to have at least 5 years of professional experience in the rescue service and be at least 25 years old.

Apart from a 4-week theoretical training, which is held in several blocks, the colleagues will go through some practical courses to extend or refresh their competencies. In addition to hospital time in urology and the emergency room, there will also be a general practitioner's internship and outpatient care on the agenda.

Despite the abundance of new material and the intensive training, all colleagues are looking forward to their new tasks and working on this important project.

The project has a two-year practical trial period in which it will be scientifically supported and evaluated by the Universities of Oldenburg and Maastricht as well as the University Hospital of Oldenburg.

The health insurances of Lower Saxony and the rescue services involved in this project expect a significant reduction of unnecessary emergency rescue operations through the project.