- Intensifying Demand on Emergency Services: Assistance urgently needed
Increasing workload in a strained work environment - emergency doctors in Hessen encounter various hurdles. As per Dr. Susanne Tilp, an emergency physician at the University Clinic in Gießen, she explained to the German Press Agency that emergency control centers and healthcare professionals are taking on an expanding role in outpatient patient care. Moreover, there are instances of patients acting confrontational or even violent towards rescue service personnel and hospital staff.
Recently, Dr. Tilp organized the rescue service symposium "The Red Patient," with the focus on providing swift diagnosis and medical treatment to patients with acute illness or injury upon arrival of paramedics or emergency physicians. The specialist discussion centered on streamlining professional communication to give patients the best possible care immediately and direct them to the appropriate departments upon hospital arrival.
High expectations from rescue services
However, according to Tilp, nowadays, some individuals struggle to recognize their health predicaments and may have excessive expectations of the rescue services, expecting them to provide comprehensive assistance as quickly as possible. Sometimes, they seek help from the emergency department of hospitals, which house various specialist departments under one roof. Despite the prospect of delayed response due to priority given to actual emergencies, they expect instant assistance.
Similar issues are reported by Mike Mann, the head of rescue services for the German Red Cross in Hessen, which oversaw 60% of the rescue services in the state last year. In 2022, the DRK helpers performed 637,509 emergency deployments and patient transports and covered over 21 million kilometers. The latter numbers are likely to have increased further in the current year.
The surge in emergency vehicle calls for minor illnesses contributes to paramedics encountering aggressive, impatient, or overwhelmed patients regularly. Social factors such as a shortage of rural doctors and an aging population underscore this problem, with isolated individuals often facing their limits when unwell.
Could a new "helpdesk" support the rescuers?
For some time now, the idea of enhancing patient care while easing the burden on rescue services has been considered by experts, such as Mann. Mobile specialist personnel visiting rural patients is one possibility. Some main-kinzig district GP practices already employ such solutions.
Moreover, emergency call service, telemedicine doctors, and on-site emergency physician deployment avoidance are other options. Organizing emergency number 112 as a multi-helper switchboard or "helpdesk" that allows other urgent helpers, like psychologists or social workers, to intervene could also be an option.
Clear information in an emergency is vital
Good communication is paramount in emergencies, according to Dr. Tilp, a duty physician traveling to incidents in the district of Gießen and neighboring areas. In case of suspected health emergencies, provide a clear, calm, and factual description of the situation over the phone. A precise emergency call is not just a part of first aid but a crucial one, as highlighted worldwide on "International Day of First Aid" on September 14th.
The information can significantly impact deployment, as in emergency medicine - diagnosing and treating conditions promptly is crucial for initiating early treatment measures, whether it's an elderly stroke patient or an infant suffering from respiratory arrest.
Issues with violent patients
Emergency service personnel and duty physicians often face challenges when dealing with confrontational or aggressive patients or their relatives, leaving little room for error due to high deployment numbers and time pressure. Unfortunate incidents of hostility towards emergency workers have become almost routine, as explained by the duty physician. On occasion, paramedics required police escort to ensure their safety when attending certain patients.
She also recalls a case of a patient in the emergency room of the university clinic in Gießen who had a breakdown and attacked a nurse, causing severe injuries. During the subsequent symposium, she intends to address this issue and propose potential solutions.
In light of increasing confrontations and expectations from patients, Dr. Tilp proposes the implementation of an emergency number 112 as a multi-helper switchboard or "helpdesk," allowing other urgent helpers like psychologists or social workers to intervene, potentially alleviating pressure on emergency doctors in emergency situations. The surge in non-emergency calls and high expectations from patients can lead to emergency service personnel facing aggressive or violent behavior, which can hinder their ability to provide adequate care efficiently.
