Elsevier

Resuscitation

Volume 63, Issue 3, December 2004, Pages 255-259
Resuscitation

International EMS systems: Greece

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resuscitation.2004.06.009Get rights and content

Abstract

Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in Greece have been created to offer first aid, primary medical treatment if required, stabilisation and safe and rapid transfer to the closest appropriate hospital. To achieve these objectives, organised systems have been established with trained personnel and physicians, suitable equipment, communication centres and protocols. We present the Greek EMS system and explain its history, structure, training, cooperation with Emergency Departments (ED) and an outlook on the future.

Resumo

Os Serviços de Emergência Médica (SEM) na Grécia têm sido criados para oferecer ajuda primária, tratamento médico primário se necessário, estabilização e transferência rápida e segura para o hospital apropriado mais próximo. Para alcançar estes objectivos, têm sido estabelecidos sistemas organizados com pessoal e médicos treinados, equipamento, centros de comunicação e protocolos apropriados. Apresentamos o sistema Grego de SEM e explicamos a sua história, estrutura, treino e cooperação com os Departamentos da Emergência (ED) e uma perspectiva do futuro.

Resumen

En Grecia se han creado los Servicios de Emergencias Médicas (EMS) para ofrecer primeros auxilios, ofrecer tratamiento medico primario cuando se requiera, estabilización y transporte seguro y rápido al hospital apropiado mas cercano. Para alcanzar estos objetivos, se han establecido sistemas organizados con médicos y personal entrenado, equipo adecuado, centros de comunicación y protocolos. Presentamos el sistema de EMS de Grecia y explicamos su historia, estructura, entrenamiento y cooperación con los departamentos de emergencias (ED) y planteamos una mirada al futuro.

Section snippets

Background

Greece is a fairly small country with an area of 131,957 km2 and a population of 10,964,020. There are some important features and characteristics of geography and the distribution of the population, which are of importance for EMS organisation. Around 72.8% of the Greek population (7.98 million) live in cities. Athens and Thessaloniki are the two largest cities with 4 million and 1 million inhabitants, respectively. A large proportion of the 27.2% rural population (2.98 million) live on

The history of the Greek EMS

An EMS system as we know it today did not exist in Greece until 1987. A first aid station was established in 1915 by the charity group “Sotir” (Saviour) next to the parliament in Athens. From 1932 to 1988, the Samaritans from the Hellenic Red Cross founded several first aid stations with their own ambulances in Athens, Thessaloniki and Patras. In 1965, the Social Insurance Institute (IKA) created IKA first aid stations with their own ambulances in parallel with the Samaritans in Athens,

The Greek EMS structure

The Greek EMS, in Greece called Ethniko Kentro Amesis Boitheias (EKAB), National Centre for Emergency Care, was established in 1987 by national law 1579, which was passed in 1985. According to paragraph 2 of article 7 of this law “The purpose of EKAB is the coordination of immediate help in emergencies and of emergency medical care to the citizens and the transportation of these citizens to health care facilities”. EKAB is a national public organisation with its headquarters in Athens. It is

EMS training and education

At the same time as the foundation of EKAB in 1987, a training centre was established and education centres were founded at almost all EKAB stations.

Until 1989, all EMTs received 40 h of basic education, similar to first responder training.

In 1989, a basic EMT training programme was introduced under regulation of the Ministry of Health. The basic EMT training is conducted over a year and consists of 1000 h of teaching. Subjects covered include assessment of the critically ill, triage and

EMS dispatch

All EKAB stations have their own dispatch centres, which are equipped with a telephone centre, radio and a computer network for data entry and processing. The division for aeromedical transportation also possesses a telemedicine system.

In general, there are two types of dispatchers: one to answer telephone calls from the public and the other to communicate via radio with the units in the field. In addition to the basic training programme as an EMT, dispatchers undergo additional education

EMS aeromedical transport

EKAB also has an aeromedical transportation division with its operational centre in Athens and a base in Rhodes. The three helicopters, owned by the Ministry of Health, have been given to the Air Force, and aeromedical transport is carried out under the management and with additional helicopters and aeroplanes of the Air Force. There is one physician and one dispatcher at the operational centre in Athens for the administrative and medical support of the aeromedical assets and three physicians

EMS: facts and figures

Nationwide EKAB employs 2183 EMTs and 128 physicians. There are plans to employ 300 additional EMTs and 55 physicians during 2004 [10]. EKAB owns 435 basic ambulance cars, 77 advanced MICUs, 16 motorcycles and three helicopters. EKAB plans to invest in another 270 basic ambulance cars, 25 MICUs, 10 motorcycles, two mobile coordination units, and two units equipped for disaster medicine.

EKAB receives approximately 550,000 calls annually, of which 76.7% are emergencies. About 85% of these get an

Emergency departments

In all healthcare facilities (Hospitals, District Hospitals and Health Care Centres), Emergency Departments (ED) have either been built or are planned. There is no specialty of Emergency Medicine in Greece although recently, an Emergency Medicine Society has been founded. The emergency cases are usually sorted into surgical or medical emergencies and are treated by appropriate specialists. In life-threatening situations, anaesthetists are immediately involved (in those facilities with

EMS: the future

EKAB is expanding by buying new vehicles (Fig. 1), motorcycles and equipment, as well as modernising existing equipment. At the same time, new physicians and EMTs are being recruited. One of the major goals is the expansion, building and staffing of new EKAB stations in smaller cities, because rural areas are a priority for the provision of improved medical care, especially emergency care. For the larger cities, where traffic is a contributing factor to longer response times, more motorcycles

References (11)

  • National Statistical Service of Greece. Statistical Yearbook of Greece 2002. Athens, 2003, ISSN:...
  • National Statistical Service of Greece. De Facto Population of Greece [Census 2001]. Athens, 2003. ISSN:...
  • Greek National Tourism Organization. Attraction: Islands and Coasts. http://www.gnto.gr/1/03/0304/ea0304000.html...
  • Greek National Tourism Organization. Business: Statistics. http://www.gnto.gr/2/01/eb10000.html (accessed 10 February...
  • Annex Table 5, Selected national health accounts indicators: measured levels of expenditure on health, 1997–2001. In...
There are more references available in the full text version of this article.

Cited by (0)

View full text