Emergency Room Visitors Often Priority-Neglected During Initial Assessments, Poll Finds - Emergency Room Admissions: Multiple Individuals bypass Preliminary Assessments prior to Visit
In Lower Saxony, a significant number of people visit emergency rooms (ER) without prior initial assessment, placing a considerable burden on emergency care services. This trend is attributed to various factors, such as limited access to primary care, complex patient needs, and perceived urgency of medical conditions.
A survey conducted by Forsa, a renowned German market and social research institute, reveals that younger people aged 18 to 39 are more likely to go to the ER for complaints than those over 60 in Lower Saxony. Furthermore, 34% of those surveyed went directly to the ER because they felt too sick to wait, while 14% feared a life-threatening problem like a stroke or heart attack.
Jürgen Peter, chairman of the board of AOK Lower Saxony, the largest health insurance company in the region with over three million insured members, has called for the quick implementation of emergency care reform to ease the burden on ERs. He emphasises the need to improve the management of actual and perceived emergencies, directing patients to the right treatment path.
One solution proposed is the implementation of tele-emergency medicine systems. A pilot in the Goslar district demonstrates the use of a tele-emergency physician who provides remote support via audio-video communication to emergency personnel on-site. This allows for medical advice and triage without immediate ER admission, potentially reducing unnecessary emergency visits.
Other reforms include the transitioning of small rural hospitals to short-stay units with interdisciplinary, cross-sectoral care and case management. This bridges outpatient and inpatient treatment, decreasing unnecessary hospital admissions by enabling timely outpatient interventions and better coordination.
Improved outpatient and mobile care services are also suggested. Deployment of mobile nursing ("Flying Nurse") and enhanced communication among outpatient providers, emergency paramedics, and inpatient staff can improve initial assessment and care outside the ER.
Lastly, public education and clear pathways are crucial. Educating patients about when emergency care is necessary and providing accessible alternatives for non-critical conditions could reduce unwarranted ER use.
The medical on-call service in Lower Saxony, with the number 116 117 for minor ailments like colds, aims to provide patients with faster help and relieve doctors from house calls. The survey highlights the need for this service, as only 14% of ER visitors in Lower Saxony were advised by the medical on-call service to go to the emergency room.
In conclusion, reforms focusing on telemedicine, restructuring rural healthcare, case management, and enhanced outpatient care coordination are promising strategies to ease the emergency care burden in Lower Saxony.
Community policy should be revised to include measures promoting vocational training for healthcare professionals, with a focus on emergency care services, to address the increasing demand for healthcare services in Lower Saxony. A comprehensive health-and-wellness campaign incorporating science-backed information on medical conditions and promoting health-and-wellness practices could limit unnecessary ER visits, thereby improving the overall health of the community and reducing the burden on emergency care services.
