Præhospitalet recognised as a university clinic

The research department at Præhospitalet has long worked purposefully to attain university clinic status – and has now succeeded.

This recognition means that Præhospitalet in the Central Denmark Region will strengthen its research profile and formally become part of the academic collaboration with the Department of Clinical Medicine at Aarhus University. The official launch date for the clinic is 1 January 2026.

“With this designation, we have received a major seal of quality and significant recognition of our research efforts in prehospital care. At the same time, it opens up new national and international opportunities – particularly in terms of collaboration and funding,” says Ulla Væggemose, head of research and associate professor at Præhospitalet.

Strong foundation in practice and research

Præhospitalet is a central part of the Central Denmark Region’s healthcare system, providing care for seriously ill or injured patients from the moment a 1-1-2 call is made until the patient has either been treated on site or received at a hospital.

Research in this area is conducted close to clinical practice, with a special focus on acute and often complex patient pathways – and will now be strengthened by the new university clinic status.

“When Præhospitalet is recognised as a university clinic, it is an important acknowledgement of the solid work its researchers have carried out over the years. With university clinic status, they have better opportunities to develop new knowledge that can directly benefit patients. That is precisely what good research should be – close to practice and focused on improving treatment,” says Jørgen Frøkiær, Head of the Department of Clinical Medicine.

High international quality

Establishing a university clinic requires thorough preparation and a targeted application to the Central Denmark Region and Aarhus University via the Department of Clinical Medicine.

The application is assessed by both the region and the university. At the university, this is done through a national and international evaluation panel that reviews the application based on a wide range of criteria, including the quality of previous research, which must be of a high international standard. 

Applicants must also outline their research plans for the five-year initial approval period as a university clinic.

Three research themes

Over the next five years, research at the university clinic will build on the department’s three strategic research themes: critical decision-making, critical interventions, and the individual and the system.

In practice, this means that research will focus, among other things, on clinical trials targeting prehospital patients – for example, in relation to cardiac arrest, COPD, and stroke. There will also be research into new health technologies, vulnerable populations, and subacute patients.

“These three research themes collectively have the potential to generate tangible improvements that not only enhance prehospital care but also help address significant organisational challenges in the healthcare system,” says Ulla Væggemose.

The university clinic will be organisationally part of the Research & Development unit at Præhospitalet and will be called The University Clinic for Prehospital Care.

The clinic will be led by Professor Lars Wiuff Andersen and will serve as a central hub for research activities, knowledge sharing, and interdisciplinary collaboration – both nationally and internationally.

Contact

Head of Research and Associate Professor Ulla Væggemose
Aarhus University, Department of Clinical Medicine
Central Denmark Region, Præhospitalet – Research & Development
Email: ulla.vaeggemose@rm.dk

Based on press material from the Prehospital Service, Central Denmark Region.