title: Emergency Data Management - Overcoming (Information) Borders.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In order to improve access to critical patient data in case of emergency, many countries have begun or intend to implement emergency datasets. In Germany, the German Medical Association developed a medical emergency dataset (MED), which provides the possibility to store information on prior diagnoses, medications, allergies and other emergency-relevant information on the German Electronic Health Card.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study is to evaluate how the MED can be used internationally.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 64 paper-based emergency data sets were completed by primary care physicians in Germany, and were then evaluated by German clinicians, emergency physicians, and paramedics on the basis of fictitious emergency scenarios. Thirty randomly selected MEDs were then translated into English and will be evaluated by international emergency physicians and paramedics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In Germany, clinicians, emergency physicians and paramedics rated the emergency data set as very useful or useful in more than 70% of the reviewed cases. The international evaluation will start in September 2016, so these results are pending at this time.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The first study results from Germany indicate high potential benefits of the emergency data set in real patient care situations. The subsequent tests will show whether the MED is also suitable for international use.
authors: University Hospital Muenster, Germany.
authors: Judith
authors: J
authors: Born
authors: German Medical Association, Germany.
authors: Jürgen
authors: J
authors: Albert
authors: School of Health Information Science, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
authors: Elizabeth M
authors: EM
authors: Borycki
authors: German Medical Association, Germany.
authors: Norbert
authors: N
authors: Butz
authors: Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors: Kendall
authors: K
authors: Ho
authors: Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors: Josh
authors: J
authors: Koczerginski
authors: School of Health Information Science, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
authors: Andre W
authors: AW
authors: Kushniruk
authors: German Medical Association, Germany.
authors: Johannes
authors: J
authors: Schenkel
authors: University Hospital Muenster, Germany.
authors: Christian
authors: C
authors: Juhra
mesh_terms: D000488:Allied Health Personnel; D003422:Critical Care; D066264:Datasets as Topic; D004632:Emergency Medical Services; D005858:Germany; D063025:Health Information Management; D006801:Humans; D007391:International Cooperation; D010820:Physicians; D014177:Translations