12. Kongress der Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Notfallmedizin
- Apr 15
- 2 min read
Advancing prehospital emergency care—and returning to my roots
I am attending the 12. Kongress der Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Notfallmedizin, a three-day conference dedicated to all aspects of prehospital emergency medicine.
This meeting brings together paramedics, emergency physicians, nurses, and first responders to discuss the latest advances in emergency care—spanning from the first minutes at the scene to advanced interventions in critical situations.
A personal connection
This conference is particularly meaningful to me, as it brings me back to my roots in emergency medicine. More than 25 years ago, I worked as a Rettungsmediziner with the Mediziner Corps, where I gained my first hands-on experience in acute care, decision-making under pressure, and teamwork in critical situations.
I also had the privilege of serving as the head of the organizing committee of the 3rd Congress, making this return even more special—now attending as a clinician-scientist contributing from a different perspective.
A comprehensive emergency medicine program
The conference covers a wide spectrum of topics reflecting the complexity and breadth of prehospital care, including:
Basic and advanced cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) in emergency settings
Airway management, including bronchoscopy
Acute care for myocardial infarction, trauma, and stroke
Crisis resource management and team dynamics
Response to mass casualty incidents
This diversity highlights how modern emergency medicine integrates technical skills, decision-making, and team coordination under high-pressure conditions.
Bringing neonatal resuscitation into the field
As part of the program, I am presenting on neonatal resuscitation at birth in out-of-hospital settings.
While much of neonatal resuscitation research is based in the delivery room, many newborns require support outside the hospital environment—including home births, rural settings, and emergency deliveries attended by paramedics or first responders.
These situations present unique challenges:
Limited equipment and personnel
Variable training in neonatal care
High-stress, unpredictable environments
The focus of my session is to translate core principles of neonatal resuscitation—especially the importance of effective ventilation in the first minutes of life—into practical, actionable strategies for use in the field.
Bridging disciplines
One of the most valuable aspects of this conference is the opportunity to connect neonatal care with broader emergency medicine practice. Many principles—teamwork, airway management, prioritization, and rapid decision-making—are shared across disciplines.
By bringing neonatal resuscitation into this setting, we can help ensure that even the smallest patients receive optimal care, wherever they are born.
Looking ahead
Returning to this conference—now from the perspective of research and global collaboration—highlights how far the field has evolved, and how interconnected emergency and neonatal care truly are.
I am looking forward to engaging discussions, reconnecting with colleagues, and contributing to advancing care across the entire spectrum of emergency medicine.
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