AAS and FGS: Which is Superior? Anglo-American systems (AAS) and Franco-German systems (FGS) are the two main models for emergency medical services (EMS) that are used internationally. Two countries that have implemented each of these models are the United States and Germany – the United States has implemented the AAS while Germany has implemented the FGS. It is apparent that both systems work, as they have been used for over 40 years, but which one is superior? Although the answer cannot be scientifically given, based upon evidence, it is my working thesis that the AAS, which is used in many European countries as well as the United States, is superior to the FGS due to AAS having more paramedics that are all equally and highly qualified,
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The Anglo-American system (AAS) is used in many countries and regions, such as “Australia, Canada, China, Hong Kong, Ireland, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, the Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, and the United States.” (Arnold, 1999). The AAS “brings the patient to the hospital” – the goal is to assess patients while on-scene and to transport them as quickly as possible to a nearby hospital for further and more specialized treatment. (Arnold, 1999).
The on-scene crew is made up of EMTs and paramedics, and their goal is to bring the patient to the physician in the hospital after treating any life-threatening injuries on-scene and attempting to stabilize the patient. (Page et al., 2013). There are different levels of training for EMTs – Basic life support (BLS), advanced life support (ALS), and paramedics. (Page et al., 2013). By having varied levels of training available, it gives EMTs more options as to how advanced they want to be instead of pushing all EMTs to have the same degree of certification. This allows for better training and there is more supervision, since someone more certified or equally qualified is always on-scene with …show more content…
One similarity, however, is that survival rates from cardiac arrest that were reported in German EMSS are similar to rates reported in Europe and the United States; the differences in protocol and implementation seem to have no affect on this statistic, so one system is not superior to another in this aspect. (Dick, 2003). Another similarity is that paramedics in both Germany and the United States are able to perform life-saving interventions, such as defibrillation, intubation, and administering medicine. (Dick, 2003). The difference within this similarity, however, should not go unnoticed – the paramedics are the only other EMS personnel allowed to perform such tasks other than the on-scene physician under the FGS, while under the AAS, all levels of EMTs are able to perform life-saving interventions to an extent. In fact, in most countries, EMS personnel must wait for the on-scene physician to arrive before beginning lifesaving procedures. (Arnold,
The Anglo-American system (AAS) is used in many countries and regions, such as “Australia, Canada, China, Hong Kong, Ireland, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, the Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, and the United States.” (Arnold, 1999). The AAS “brings the patient to the hospital” – the goal is to assess patients while on-scene and to transport them as quickly as possible to a nearby hospital for further and more specialized treatment. (Arnold, 1999).
The on-scene crew is made up of EMTs and paramedics, and their goal is to bring the patient to the physician in the hospital after treating any life-threatening injuries on-scene and attempting to stabilize the patient. (Page et al., 2013). There are different levels of training for EMTs – Basic life support (BLS), advanced life support (ALS), and paramedics. (Page et al., 2013). By having varied levels of training available, it gives EMTs more options as to how advanced they want to be instead of pushing all EMTs to have the same degree of certification. This allows for better training and there is more supervision, since someone more certified or equally qualified is always on-scene with …show more content…
One similarity, however, is that survival rates from cardiac arrest that were reported in German EMSS are similar to rates reported in Europe and the United States; the differences in protocol and implementation seem to have no affect on this statistic, so one system is not superior to another in this aspect. (Dick, 2003). Another similarity is that paramedics in both Germany and the United States are able to perform life-saving interventions, such as defibrillation, intubation, and administering medicine. (Dick, 2003). The difference within this similarity, however, should not go unnoticed – the paramedics are the only other EMS personnel allowed to perform such tasks other than the on-scene physician under the FGS, while under the AAS, all levels of EMTs are able to perform life-saving interventions to an extent. In fact, in most countries, EMS personnel must wait for the on-scene physician to arrive before beginning lifesaving procedures. (Arnold,