[Physician-based prehospital units in Denmark].
BACKGROUND
With the reduction of administrative Regions in Denmark to a total of five, more focus has been given to prehospital services. Since access to and quality of prehospital treatment is not standardized, it may very well vary between regions.


METHODS
Information was collected from all existing physician-based units in Denmark through official sources and subsequently verified by direct contact to the administrative unit's prehospital organization. Data was collected in the period 1 December 2007 to 31 January 2008.


RESULTS
There is great variation in coverage of Danish prehospital physician-based units. The number of dedicated prehospital units in significantly lower in Region North Jutland than in the remaining regions (measured as units pr. million inhabitants as well as is units per 10,000 square kilometers). Generally, the dedicated physician-based prehospital units are staffed with a specialist in anaesthesiology.


CONCLUSIONS
There is considerable variation in the coverage of the physician-based prehospital units in Denmark. There are sound medical arguments for having a specialist in anaesthesiology staffing physician-based prehospital units. All administrative regions - except Region Nordjylland - offer advanced physician prehospital treatment on a 24-hours basis.
Kindberg
Karsten
K
Anaestesiologisk Afdeling I, Herlev Hospital, DK-2730 Herlev. karsten@kindberg.dk
Nielsen
Søren Loumann
SL
Møller
Ann M
AM
D000552:Ambulances / Q000592:standards; D000776:Anesthesiology; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003718:Denmark; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards; D004634:Emergency Medical Technicians; D006801:Humans; D010820:Physicians; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D000078329:Workforce