[Integrated services in emergency medicine: the Regional Center for Emergency Medical Assistance]

Abstract

According to the law of 8 July 1964, the Belgian State is responsible for the treatment of the emergencies in the public ways and places. Due to an important spontaneous private extension, among the 502.600 annual calls the 252.000 specifically medical cases are in practice selected, estimated and practically handled by the Responsible of the Call Center 900, that is to say a fire man, who also answers the 57.400 annual demands for medical advice. There is neither doctor on the scene of the emergency nor during transportation in 85% of the cases. Emergency Medical Support (EMS) may no longer be conceived without the presence of the doctor. The Regional Emergency Medical Support Centers (CRAMU) harmoniously and efficiently integrate, with everyone in his place, all the clinical institutions, their common medical regulating center, the SAMU (EMS Center) and the call center 900 where the specifically medical calls are selected and directed to the SAMU. The concrete results of the first experimental CRAMU in Charleroi are presented, after a three years experience.