health - Full Emergency Rooms: What patients should do in an emergency
With the reform of emergency care in Germany, things are expected to change significantly for patients. For acute complaints, the emergency department is currently the first point of contact for many people, especially on weekends or in the evening. Stress and long waiting times are common in such situations. The reform, as planned by Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD), is to be discussed in parliament.
Where should one go in an emergency?
Two innovations are being introduced for this: In acute care centers, patients will receive an initial assessment under a nationwide number. They can be reached at 116 117. Nationwide, so-called integrated emergency centers are also to be built, some of which will be for children and adolescents. In the emergency centers, the emergency department of the hospital is combined with an emergency practice.
I'm afraid I need immediate treatment - what should I do?
There will be several options in the future, but the telephone option is to be expanded significantly. At 116 117, one should receive an initial assessment in 75% of cases within three minutes, otherwise it should not take much longer. Patients can be directed to the nearest emergency center by the experts on the phone. If the case turns out to be an emergency, it should be redirected to 112, so that an ambulance can be dispatched. Telemedicine doctors and nurses can be connected for an assessment. The telephone consultation is expected to prevent unnecessary emergency room visits. The acute care centers will be linked to appointment scheduling offices: Doctor's visits can then be directed to the phone. Anyone who ends up at the emergency center via 116 117 should arrive there more quickly.
What's special about the emergency centers?
At the reception desk of the integrated emergency centers (INZ), there will be an initial assessment: Where should those in need of help go next – to the emergency room or a nearby emergency practice? Health Minister Lauterbach's stated goal: Patients should be treated there where it is best and fastest. The INZ should be distributed throughout the country so that at least one is always easily accessible. The opening hours of the attached emergency practices: open until 9 pm – also on weekends and holidays.
What happens if the case is assessed as mild?
The doctor or nurse can determine telephonically or via video that a practice or clinic visit is not necessary. In such a case, an electronic prescription or an electronic sick note can also be issued.
Why the reform?
Emergency rooms and emergency services are often overloaded. Every third person in an emergency room, according to the Health Ministry's assessment, could be better cared for in a practice. This is also due to the fact that many simply do not know what to do when they suddenly need medical help at night or on weekends. Many end up with the emergency services and eventually end up in the hospital.
What do the doctors say?
The House Doctors' Association warned against the failure of the reform – because there is a lack of personnel, and "parallel structures" are to be set up. The Kassenaerztliche Bundesvereinigung (KBV) praised positive initiatives. The KBV doubted, however, the full feasibility due to a lack of personnel – also for the expansion of home visits that was also planned.
The health insurance funds praised the proposals. Stefanie Stoff-Ahnis, Deputy Chief of the GKV-Spitzenverband, said: "The Emergency Law contains many correct starting points to improve the care for our insured persons." The health insurance funds also have a warning for Lauterbach: The Kassenärztlichen Vereinigungen should not be presented with insoluble personnel problems. Stoff-Ahnis welcomed the planned requirement for the Kassenärztlichen Vereinigungen to uniformly provide information on doctors' consultation hours online nationwide.
Which laws does Lauterbach still have in the cabinet?
Several proposals from the Health Ministry are expected to be decided by the cabinet on this Wednesday. Different from today, kidney donations should be possible between two pairs in the future. To strengthen preventive healthcare, a new federal authority, the Bundesinstitut für Prävention und Aufklärung in der Medizin (BIPAM), is planned to start on January 1, 2025. Parts of the Robert Koch-Institut and the Bundeszentrale für gesundheitliche Aufklärung will be integrated into it. And to drive digitalization in healthcare forward, the existing so-called gematik is to be developed into a Digital Agency.
- According to Health Minister Karl Lauterbach's plans, the federal government is planning to introduce two innovations for emergency care in Germany.
- In the future, acute care centers will provide an initial assessment for patients with acute complaints, which can be reached at 116 117.
- Nationwide, integrated emergency centers are also being constructed, some of which will be specific for children and adolescents in Germany.
- In the emergency centers, the emergency department of the hospital is combined with an emergency practice, aiming to treat patients where it's best and fastest.
- The reform is necessary due to the overloading of emergency rooms and emergency services, as every third person in an emergency room could be better cared for in a practice, according to the Health Ministry's assessment.
- The House Doctors' Association has voiced concerns about the lack of personnel for the reform, while the health insurance funds have praised the proposed changes in emergency care.
