In early June, a group of 18 people working in the field of outpatient care in South Iceland participated in the European EMS Congress 2025 in the Waterfront Conference Centre in the heart of Stockholm.

The group consisted of 16 people from Selfoss and 2 from Höfn, who together made a lively and cohesive group that shares a great interest in the profession.

The conference, entitled ‘It Takes a System to Save a Life’, focused on patient safety, quality measurement, innovation in outpatient care, crisis management, technological innovation and public health. The three days of conference offered a wide range of lectures, workshops and exhibitions.

The agenda included:

EMS Championships – an international competition in outpatient care where teams from 16 countries competed in challenging, realistic situations. The competition was both exciting and educational.

Workshops and practical exercises – Among other things, about head injuries, stroke, mental health, births and much more.

Device demonstrations – Present the latest equipment for outpatient services.

Lectures and EMS-Talks – Short and effective presentations from experts from all over the world. They discussed education, security culture, performance measurements and the emotional impact of the work.

The Icelandic team – experience, learning and cohesion

The group from Selfoss and Höfn came home with lots of inspiration and new knowledge after three days of events at the EMS conference. The conference provided a unique opportunity to see how other nations organize their services, how they use technological innovations and how they approach education and procedures in outpatient services.

We learned a lot – both what we can do better and what we are already doing very well. It was especially useful to see how the small things that are often forgotten in daily disasters are of great importance when it comes to quality and safety in emergency services. Alongside that, we were reassured that many of the things we do here at home are completely internationally comparable – and in some cases, we are even a step ahead.

The interaction between the participants also strengthened the connection and cooperation, both within the group and with foreign colleagues. It was really inspiring to experience this enormous interest in the profession among people, discuss ideas, exchange experiences and get encouragement to continue to develop the service at home.

Women in emergency services: An important debate at the 2025 EMS Conference

One of the most notable workshops at the EMS conference in Stockholm in June 2025 was entitled “Women in EMS and the Impact to Patient Care”, which focused on the position of women in outpatient care and the impact of diversity on quality of care.

The workshop brought together women and men from different countries and working in the emergency care sector to discuss how to strengthen the role of women in this important sector. The focus was on increasing the visibility and influence of women not only within the workplace but also in policy making and leadership roles. The challenges that many women face in their work were discussed, including the lack of access to career advancement, lack of role models and even gender-based inequality within certain systems.

The workshop was not only about problems – but also about solutions. The participants worked together in groups on ideas for creating a safer and more equal work environment. The importance of mentoring systems, leadership training, support groups and empowering education was discussed. Practical actions such as specialized training in communication and de-escalation techniques were also highlighted, which can both strengthen individuals and improve patient safety.

Special emphasis was placed on the relationship between diversity within a team and improved patient service. Researches presented show that teams that consist of people with different backgrounds – including gender, age and experience – produce better results in treatment, communication and decision making. Diversity is not only a question of justice but also of quality.

The participants described the workshop as sincere, inspiring and necessary.

Benefits for the future

The conference had great value for the future development of ambulance and emergency services in Iceland. By learning about diverse practices, the latest technology and different methods from other European countries, we got valuable comparisons with our own procedures.

We saw clearly where there are opportunities for improvement – for example in communication, data recording and the use of technology in everyday work. At the same time, we were able to confirm that much is done with great professionalism at home and that we are in many cases working at the same level or even higher than other countries.

This lesson will be useful both in professional development and education – and no less in strengthening solidarity and cooperation within the industry. We bring home new ideas, more motivation and even more faith in the importance of our work.

Author; Anna Lilja Ásbjarnardóttir, Ambulance at HSU