This master's thesis examines the organization and operation of the emergency
medical services in the Republic of Slovenia, as an operational component of the
emergency medical services system, which represents one of the most demanding
and key segments of the healthcare system. The terms emergency medical services
and emergency medical services system are often used interchangeably in
professional literature and everyday speech. Although the term system, as opposed to
the term service, is not legally defined, it is considered a broader concept that
encompasses the entire structure, regulations, and performers, enabling the operation
of emergency medical services in the country. The aim of the master's thesis is to
analyse the development and current structure of the emergency medical services,
highlight key challenges such as the increasing needs of the population, staffing
unsustainability, fragmentation and network planning difficulties, and to examine the
role of local communities in this field. The master's thesis uses qualitative research
methods, including the analysis of domestic and foreign professional literature, the
comparative method when conducting a comparison with the Croatian emergency
medical services system, and semi-structured interviews with participants at various
levels of the system.
Key findings indicate that the Slovenian emergency medical services is currently highly
fragmented organizationally, leading to inconsistent quality of care and unequal
accessibility for residents to emergency services.
The master's thesis contributes to a better understanding and wider perspective on the
organization and operation of the emergency medical services in the Republic of
Slovenia. In conclusion the master's thesis justifies the necessity for legal regulation of
the field of emergency medical care. And at the same time confirms the need for the
already proposed establishment of unified national leadership and regional integration,
by which the state would ensure the establishment of a stable, long-term sustainable,
and professionally unified emergency medical services system as equally accessible
as possible to all citizens.
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