The Cochrane Review Groups on Emergency and Critical Care, Anaesthesia, and Injuries, along with the Cochrane Fields of Pre-hospital and Emergency Care, and First Aid, have joined forces to create a new Thematic Group (TG) focused on advancing collaboration and research in Acute and Emergency Care. This initiative aims to foster cooperation across a wide range of specialised topics, enhance the quality and accessibility of evidence for healthcare providers in time-sensitive settings, and ultimately improve patient outcomes. By bringing together expertise from multiple disciplines, the new TG is well-positioned to address global health challenges related to acute and emergency care.
The mission of the new Thematic Group is to support evidence-based guidelines and strategies that enhance patient outcomes in critical scenarios worldwide. Drawing on the successful collaboration of three Cochrane Review Groups and two Cochrane Fields, this Thematic Group builds on a solid foundation of teamwork and shared goals, where together, we aim to function as a knowledge hub and become an umbrella for groups dealing with the broad scope of first aid, pre-hospital and in-hospital emergency care, critical care, and anaesthesia.
Acute and emergency care spans a broad range of specialised areas, each requiring focused attention and collaboration. Hence the new Thematic Group is well-equipped to stay at the forefront of research, ensuring that evidence-based practices are effectively integrated into clinical care. The group is committed to supporting the development of more complex reviews, exploring new methods for evidence synthesis, and improving dissemination, knowledge translation and priority setting.
By facilitating coordination among researchers, clinicians, and stakeholders, the Thematic Group aims to break down knowledge silos, reduce duplication of efforts, and promote efficient use of resources. This joint venture will expand beyond the traditional scope of Cochrane Groups to address critical topics not limited to specific populations, patient groups, or settings. The impact of this initiative will be most strongly felt in areas where timely interventions can significantly improve patient outcomes.
The Thematic Group will prioritize key topics, identify knowledge gaps, and foster global awareness of diverse health challenges.
This new Thematic Group will be chaired by Professor Harald Herkner from the Medical University of Vienna, Austria, and Professor Ann Merete Møller from Herlev Hospital’s Anaesthesia Research Unit in Denmark, serving as its managing and financial director.
Other core team members are Dr. Emmy De Buck and Dr. Jorien Laermans (Cochrane First Aid), Professor Patricia Jabre and Dr. Daniel Meyran (Cochrane Pre-hospital and Emergency Care), Naomi Dayan, Anne-Marie Klint Jørgensen, Professor Andrew Smith and Dr. Marialena Trivella (Cochrane Emergency and Critical Care Cochrane Injuries and Cochrane Anaesthesia).
Professor Harald Herkner Professor Ann Merete Møller
Thematic Group core team