The DIEMS Project

Database for International EMS Systems

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So Much Activity, So Little Information

By any accounts, EMS is a young branch of medicine. In fact, in many countries it struggles for recognition by established medical professionals – as well as the specialty of Emergency Medicine itself. As a result of this relative infancy, EMS has been greatly limited in measuring its effectiveness by a lack of extensive scientific research. However, this lack of research – and resulting practical evidence – is not restricted to our medical practices and treatments alone: neither are we certain which EMS delivery model offers the best patient care and outcomes. Dr. Jeffrey Arnold, a respected expert on international emergency medicine, commented on this subject in a 1999 article in Annals of Emergency Medicine as he discussed the differences between the Anglo-American and Franco-German EMS models:

“No comparative multinational studies exist to demonstrate the superiority of one model over the other … Reliable research in prehospital care is … rare. Except for data on early defibrillation, almost no scientific evidence exists to show that patients significantly benefit from ‘having the hospital brought to them,’ whether the provider is a German physician or an American paramedic.” [1]

Since 1999, little progress has been made. And though there has been a significant increase in the amount of research done on skills and treatments performed in the prehospital setting, there is still a minimal amount of information available regarding different EMS agencies across the globe.

The purpose of the DIEMS Project, therefore, is to help fill this void. By compiling as many relevant references, resources, articles, photos, video and datasheets possible – whether the system is as convoluted as the U.S. EMS system, or as simple as an ox and wagon – we aim to make this database the most comprehensive and authoritative resource for International EMS on the web.

We Need Your Help

Because of our community-based approach to this project, we are encouraging submissions from our visitors in order to help accomplish our goal. Therefore, if you have any information that can help us out, please contact us at: info@trekmedics.org

We are looking to include the following information:

  • Articles and Academic Resources: News, Journal, Magazines, Websites (with sources/references)
  • Press Releases, Awards & Announcements, Interviews
  • Datasheets, i.e., Annual statistics, call volume, equipment/resources available, demographics served
  • Cooperating agencies, i.e., Hospitals, Universities, Public Safety agencies, Public Health agencies, Government
  • Website links to EMS system home pages
  • Photos/Video (pertinent to specific operations – please limit “group” shots to one photo per agency/branch)

Also, be sure to include detailed information describing the content of your submissions where it is not otherwise indicated. To assist with your submissions, please feel free to download a copy of the DIEMS Project template.

Editor’s Note:

Due to our insistence on credibility and providing factual information, all information submitted that is of an academic nature must be accompanied by relevant sources and citations.

Attention: U.S. EMS professionals

Due to the high accessibility of U.S. EMS agency information on the web, the DIEMS Project has only included basic information about U.S. systems. However, we invite you to visit EMSWiki.com, where you can upload information about your own system to their growing database.

[1] Arnold JL: “International emergency medicine and the recent development of emergency medicine worldwide.” Ann Emerg Med January1999;33:97-103.

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