Jena, 04.05.2026. Thüringen is under considerable pressure to reform the structure of its rescue coordination centers. In a national comparison, the Free State has the longest rescue response times, which is now to be addressed through digital pilot projects in Jena and discussions regarding site mergers.
- Topic: Necessary reform of rescue coordination centers in Thüringen
- Problem: Longest rescue times nationwide, outdated technology, lack of standardization
- Proposed Solution: Pilot project for a first-responder app
- Pilot Location: Jena
Too Many Coordination Centers, Too Much Time Lost
The Thüringer rescue service faces structural challenges. According to reports from Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk (MDR), Thüringen records the longest times for emergency services to arrive at the scene compared to the rest of Germany. Paradoxically, there are a relatively large number of rescue coordination centers in the Free State. However, the quantity of locations apparently does not lead to higher speed in emergency care.
The list of identified deficits is long: in addition to the fragmented structure, outdated technology is sometimes used. Furthermore, there is a lack of nationwide standardized query patterns for emergency calls, which would allow dispatchers to assess emergency situations according to a uniform, time-saving protocol and alert resources in a targeted manner.
Jena Tests First-Responder App
While the political discussion regarding the merger (fusion) of rescue coordination centers in Thüringen continues to gain momentum, modern technology is to be introduced promptly in at least one area. As reported by MDR, the state plans to launch a pilot project in Jena. A so-called first-responder app is to be tested, which in the future will bridge the gap between the emergency call and the arrival of the regular rescue service.
A first-responder app is a digital alerting system integrated into the software of a rescue coordination center. If an emergency call is received with the report „cardiac arrest“ or „unconsciousness“, the system automatically locates registered, medically trained first responders (e.g., doctors, nurses, off-duty firefighters) in the immediate vicinity of the emergency site.
These volunteers receive an alert on their smartphone and can often arrive minutes before the regular emergency physician to begin life-saving chest compressions. Since the chance of survival for a cardiac arrest decreases by about ten percent with every untreated minute, this system closes the dangerous „therapy-free interval“. Furthermore, the structure of coordination centers has been debated at the Thüringer state level for years: experts are calling for a few highly modern and centralized large-scale coordination centers instead of many small regional ones, in order to bundle personnel, technology, and processes.
Source:
Pressure for reform increases: Thüringen to merge coordination centers
Transparency Note: This article was created automatically, editorially reviewed, and expanded with AI support.