Telemedicine in the Burgenland Emergency Medical Services

An interdisciplinary, cross-border, and community-based pilot project

What is the project about?

Rural regions are experiencing a growing shortage of emergency physicians. Combined with steadily increasing emergency call volumes and an ageing population, this creates an urgent need for innovative solutions in prehospital emergency care. Advances in digital technology have made it possible to introduce telemedicine into this setting. However, successful implementation within emergency medical services depends not only on the acceptance of healthcare professionals but also on clearly defined use cases and a well-planned implementation strategy.

Since 2014, the city of Aachen has operated a tele-emergency physician system that has been scientifically evaluated and is now widely regarded as a best-practice model. As part of a Lead User–Lead Expert Workshop, stakeholders from Burgenland collaborated with experts from Aachen to co-develop a pilot project tailored to the regional context. This approach built on insights from previous projects, which demonstrated that even urgently needed innovations can only be implemented effectively when all those who will ultimately use and work with the system are involved from the outset.

What is the goal of the project?

The aim of this project was to co-develop a concrete pilot project, "Telemedicine Burgenland," based on the needs and perspectives of all relevant stakeholders. Its overarching objective is to help ensure high-quality prehospital emergency care in rural areas while reducing the workload of emergency healthcare professionals through the use of telemedicine.

Who participates in the project?

Researchers from the LBI DHPS; emergency medical technicians (EMTs), emergency physicians, the Medical Director, and IT staff from the Austrian Red Cross Burgenland; dispatchers and the Head of the Emergency Dispatch Centre at the Burgenland Provincial Safety Centre; representatives of the Burgenland Department of Health; and experts, EMTs, and emergency physicians from University Hospital Aachen, RWTH Aachen University, and the Aachen Tele-Emergency Physician Service.

How are participants involved in the project?

To support this work, the project developed a dedicated framework for involving stakeholders in the co-design of new digital health solutions, using telemedicine in emergency medical services as a case study. This framework will be published separately in the near future.

How are participants recruited for the project?

Participants were recruited through personal outreach and official calls distributed within the participating organisations.

What are the results of the project?

1) A scientific publication presenting the framework for stakeholder involvement in the implementation of new digital health solutions. 2) A concept for the implementation of the scientifically evaluated pilot project "Telemedicine Burgenland".

What value and impact has the project achieved?

The participation of all stakeholder groups created an opportunity to openly share concerns, expectations, ideas, and experiences from a wide range of perspectives. This collaborative process fostered strong synergies among participants, helping to build trust, strengthen acceptance, and support the future implementation of the project. In the long term, the project has the potential to contribute to a new model for emergency medical services that reduces the workload of healthcare professionals while helping to ensure high-quality emergency care for the entire population.

What publications have emerged from the project?

Publication of the methodological framework, concept paper for the pilot project for submission to the Burgenland Provincial Government, various social media posts and communication materials

Project lead

Dr. Josef M. Lintschinger

wbfrs.yvagfpuvatre@zrqhavjvra.np.ng

Cooperation partners

Rotes Kreuz Burgenland; Land Burgenland, Abteilung Gesundheit; Uniklinik/RWTH/Telenotarztdienst Aachen