[Emergency medical care in small urban regions]

Emergency medical care is a health care segment which is essential one both in large and in small urban places. To be effective it is necessary to be well organised, and also technically equipped and properly staffed. Concerning the situation in this field, conclusions are very often made on the basis of large and very well organised units. Current legislation gave it a pretty significant place. In practice it was proven as an indispensable part of system that provides medical care for suddenly ill or injured patients, both in war and peacetime. During the war, out of total number of admissions, 5231 injured patients were treated (including cases of death), out of which 36% had just that treatment as a definite one while the rest had to be treated in hospital. In the post-war period (1996, 1997, 1998, and 1999), out of total number of 95.000 treated patients, 848 was injured in car accidents and 52% of them got a final treatment on the level of emergency medical service. However, medical amateurs but medical professionals as well put emergency medical care on a margin of evaluation. Certain number of patients is coming to emergency medical service to get prescription, be directed to specialist or simply they don't want to waist their time while waiting in the crowded surgery of general practitioner. The management does not give enough attention to staff, facilities or technical equipment of emergency medical service. Only by properly established emergency medical service we would have better and more effective subsequent stages in the treatment of suddenly ill and injured persons in large but even more in small urban places.