[Implementation of a new emergency room protocol at a University Medical Center in Germany: basis for improved flow of information, adequate quality management and scientific assessment].

BACKGROUND: After analyzing the existing documentation protocol for the emergency room (ER), the department of anesthesiology of the Medical University of Göttingen (UMG) developed a new department-specific ER protocol.

AIM: The objective was to improve the flow of patient information from the preclinical situation through the emergency room to the early inpatient period. With this in mind a new emergency protocol was developed that encompasses the very heterogeneic patient collective in the ER as well as forming a basis for quality management and scientific investigation, taking user friendliness and efficiency into consideration.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: A strategical development of a new emergency room protocol is represented, which was realized using a self-developed 8-step approach. Technical support and realization was carried out using the Scribus 1.4.2 open source desktop and GIMP 2.8.4 GNU image manipulation graphic programs.

RESULTS: The new emergency room protocol was developed based on scientific knowledge and defined targets. The following 13 sections represent the contents of the new protocol: general characteristics, emergency event, initial findings and interventions, vital parameters, injury pattern, vascular access, hemodynamics, hemogram/blood gas analysis (BGA), coagulopathy, diagnostics, emergency interventions, termination of ER treatment and final evaluation.

CONCLUSION: The structured and elaborated documentation was limited to the target of two sides and succeeds in incorporating trauma patients as well as non-trauma patients in the ER.