The Department of General Medicine was established at the J. E. Purkyně Military Medical Research and Postgraduate Institute in 1983. It was formed from the former Group of Military Medical Service Organization in Peacetime which existed at the Department of Military Medical Service Organization. The reason for the foundation of the Department was the need to educate military doctors in newly established branch of General Medicine that became the basic branch for military doctors who were in charge of primary care in the Military Medical Service organizational structures. Specialization in the branch of internal medicine was insufficient and did not meet professional requirements for individual medical practice at Units and later at Garrison Dispensaries. First Specialization Exams in this new basic specialization branch were held in February 1985. 525 military doctors passed the Specialization Exam in General Medicine till 31st December 2004.

Since 1997, the work at this Department has focused more on pre-hospital emergency care and teaching the First Aid and Emergency Medicine. At the same time a significant modernization and a proper subdivision of teaching premises according to the type of courses were carried out there. Now the Department is equipped with modern teaching models and simulators for teaching pre-hospital care, including the possibility of interactive teaching aids. Current innovations of medical material and equipment are applied in teaching process. The extension of teaching activities in this new field called for changes in table posts at the Department. In 2001, the Healthcare Education and Training Group was established and other workers were engaged to teach the first aid. Since 2003, regarding the extension of teaching, the Department has had a new name – the Department of General and Emergency Medicine.

The Department of General and Emergency Medicine is the main department providing military-professional training in the subject called Military Medical Service Organization in Peacetime for students of the Master´s Study Programme in branches of General Medicine and Military Pharmacy, and for students of the Bachelor´s Study Programme in the branch of Military Medical Management and in various types of training and courses. It also provides further education for military doctors, pharmacists and other personnel of the Military Medical Service through refresher courses and specialization courses as well as education and training for Military Medical Service Reserves according to their assignments. Until 2005, the Department was the leading department focused on specialization training of military doctors served in the Czech Army Medical Service. It organizes pre-graduate courses in emergency medicine in Master´s Study Programme, but especially post-graduate education of doctors, health care workers and nurses. The Department of General and Emergency Medicine collaborates with the Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education in Prague, the Chamber of Medicine, professional medical societies and associations in postgraduate training and specialized activities. It participates in establishing standards for special therapeutic care.

The subject called Disaster Medicine makes students acquainted with principles of emergency medicine and operation of individual parts of integrated rescue system in conditions of serious accidents, natural disasters and catastrophes. In connection with this training, the Department provides its participants with knowledge and experience of the operation of the Military Medical Service institutions and facilities in crisis, in combat or other extraordinary situations. It applies the knowledge of military and military-professional subjects into specific conditions of operation of the Military Medical Service respecting both military principles and requirements as well as the principles of humanity, law and especially Geneva Conventions.

The main mission of the Department is education and training of medical officers in casualty medical care in both combat and disaster situations. For this purpose, the principles and procedures of emergency care in field conditions are taught at the Department through BATLS/BARTS (Battlefield Advanced Trauma Life Support/Battlefield Advanced Resuscitation Techniques and Skills) courses. In the same area, the Department participates in training of medical personnel before their departure to foreign missions.

The Department is a co-ordinating centre of scientific work in the branch of Military Medical Service Organization in Peacetime, Social Medicine, Emergency Medicine and Disaster Medicine. It participates in increasing the quality of organisational structure of medical units, formations and facilities. It elaborates their operation procedures and principles of their management in peacetime as well as in emergency situations. The Department provides expert activities and elaborates data and proposals from these areas for concept-making bodies of the Czech Army Medical Service. The Department analyzes NATO regulations and directives and recommends their introduction in practice as well as in teaching process. It provides consultations for field leading officers of the Military Medical Service. The Department cooperates with civilian institutions, namely, with the bodies of the Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic in the issues concerning the cooperation between civilian and military medical service in extraordinary situations. It ensures publication activities focused on educational work requirements and on presenting scientific information. The Department is in charge of the education of talented students within the framework of students´ scientific and professional activities. It participates in the solution of assignments within the organizational structure of the military health care in peacetime. It is the consultation and expert workplace in the branch of General and Emergency Medicine for the Army of the Czech Republic.

Research Projects

Basic life support with automated external defibrillators
Matoušek, R.
Support of basic and advanced life support education
Matoušek, R.