Untersuchung zur Einbindung des Öffentlichen ...

1. Current state of integration of the GPHS physicians into catastrophe
preparedness and response planning
2. Expectations of catastrophe prevention officers towards GPHS physicians
3. Identification of problems and proposals to solve these
The questionnaire was mailed to all lower catastrophe prevention officers of the
Federal Republic of Germany (number n = 438) at the end of August 2001. All
responses were processed anonymously.
Overall, responses were received from n = 338 contacted catastrophe prevention
officers. With regard to integration of GPHS physicians into their catastrophe
preparedness plans, 12 (3.5%) districts and cities report that they do not have any
integration of the GPHS physicians. The most frequent way of integration is
indicated as integration into management of individual cases with 50.6% of
answers. A permanent integration into all catastrophe preparedness and notification
plans or the existence of an on-call protocol for PHS physicians is reported by only
19.6% resp. 12.8% of respondents.
The current integration of the GPHS physicians into the catastrophe prevention and
preparedness plans is centered mainly around situations of epidemic infectious
diseases, with special plans for diseases of individual patients and officially
acknowledged catastrophes. Almost 60% of respondents indicate experiences in
concerted and coordinated actions with PHS physicians during simulated scenarios
or real disaster management. This cooperation is judged as very good in 44-56%
by respondents. With regard to the integration of the GPHS physicians into the
medical care in catastrophes and disasters, the catastrophe prevention officers
primarily expect comprehensive information about symptoms, therapeutic
measures, and organisational responses to cope with radioactive, biological,
chemical, and epidemic infectious disease incidents. The catastrophe prevention
officers also wish to receive general pieces of medical information as well as
information about strategic plans for management procedures within the lower
public health service authorities from the PHS physicians. According to the opinion
of the catastrophe prevention officers of the districts and district-free cities, training
in catastrophe and disaster medicine should be massively strengthened within the
postgraduate education for the boards of public health service physicians.
3.5 Concepts for an Improved Training and Postgraduate Education of
Physicians in the German Public Health Service
To enhance the knowledge and skills relevant for medical care in catastrophes and
disasters within the German public health service, a modular training concept with
teaching contents of catastrophe medicine is proposed. It consists of the following
modules:
– Medical school
– Postgraduate education for the boards of public health physicians
– Facultative training
– Personal, self-motivated gain of information
22