Competence Centres in Germany

The STAKOB competence centres operate within the German Public Health Service (ÖGD). Their professional expertise can be supplemented by that of the public health officer (Amtsarzt) and a range of different institutions (e.g. representatives of the associated treatment centre, the federal state 'Land' healthcare authorities, agencies responsible for hygiene and ambulance services, German Federal Armed Forces).

Tasks

• Providing advice by telephone and on-site support for health authorities, doctors and hospitals in the centre's area of responsibility
• Obtaining and forwarding up-to-date epidemiological information
• Providing support on diagnosis in consultation with the Diagnostic Centre
• Providing decision-making assistance (also on-site) on the isolation, referral or transfer to the treatment centre of a patient suspected of having a certain disease
• Logistical organization of ambulance services
• Notifying cases to the responsible state (i.e. regional) healthcare authorities and to the Robert Koch Institute according to the German Infection Protection Act (Infektionsschutzgesetz "IfSG")
• Press and public relations work

• Coordination of anti-epidemic measures in case of an outbreak of highly contagious and life-threatening disease.

  • Post-exposure prophylaxis
  • Ordering and reviewing disinfection measures and waste disposal
  • Ordering and organizing an autopsy and the funeral of a deceased person
  • Providing assistance in identifying and tracing contact persons
• Accessing and/or calling in further special technical expertise
• Accessing suitable, risk-adapted personal protective equipment (PPE) and providing qualified staff, if it does not seem possible to transfer a patient from an external hospital to the treatment centre