Emergency room patients in Berlin might find a third of their cases redirected to family doctors
Berlin's emergency rooms (ERs) are experiencing high demand, with many patients seeking treatment for non-emergency cases. According to a recent survey by AOK Nordost, a significant number of patients go directly to ERs without first seeking medical advice [1].
The reasons for this trend are varied. Some patients seek prescriptions or injections without prior consultation, while others face acute social issues such as homelessness or food insecurity. Some feel too unwell to wait for an appointment in regular outpatient settings, and only 8% had used the medical on-call service (116 117) for initial assessment before visiting the ER [1].
About 26% of the respondents were referred to the ER by a doctor, implying that some cases may not have been true emergencies. This overcrowding of ERs can lead to long waits even for painful but non-life-threatening conditions [1].
Marc Schreiner, the managing director of the Berlin Hospital Association, emphasized the need for better patient guidance, particularly in treatment by general doctors [2]. He stated that the emergency room is often used as a catch-all by people, which exacerbates the problem [2].
Schreiner also highlighted that the perceived ailments of patients are taken seriously, but these needs could be addressed in the outpatient sector [2]. Potential solutions for better patient guidance in the outpatient sector include improving patient management, promoting the use of the medical on-call telephone service (116 117) outside office hours, and expanding and raising awareness of emergency practices [1].
In life-threatening cases, patients should call emergency services (112) [1]. For non-urgent issues, initial evaluation via the medical on-call service can help guide them correctly to avoid ER overcrowding [1].
Complementary challenges affecting hospital capacity, such as staff shortages and high patient volumes (e.g., pediatric respiratory illnesses), highlight the need for a robust outpatient sector to reduce non-emergency ER visits and ease inpatient burdens [2].
The Berlin Hospital Association also stated that many patients in emergency rooms are not medical emergencies [3]. In addition, a random survey of Berlin's providers found that about a third of the patients treated in central emergency rooms were admitted to the hospital [3].
Some patients visit the emergency room due to ongoing pain from a two-week-old sports injury or a half-year-old surgical scar, which could have been managed by a general practitioner at a later time [1]. The emergency room often sees many acute social cases, such as homeless people needing new clothes or food [1].
In summary, non-emergency ER use in Berlin largely stems from patient behavior influenced by access issues and perceived urgency, while solutions center on improved outpatient care access, telephone triage services, and patient education for appropriate use of emergency services [1].
- The trend of patients going directly to Berlin's emergency rooms (ERs) without prior medical advice includes those seeking prescriptions or injections without consultation and individuals facing healthcare challenges such as chronic diseases or mental health issues.
- Overcrowding of ERs can lead to long waits for those with non-emergency conditions, including patients with respiratory conditions or eye health concerns.
- The Berlin Hospital Association has emphasized the importance of better patient guidance, particularly in the outpatient sector, to address these non-emergency cases and prevent overcrowding in ERs.
- In the outpatient sector, potential solutions for better patient guidance include improving patient management, promoting the use of the medical on-call telephone service (116 117), and raising awareness of emergency practices.
- For general health and wellness, fitness and exercise, and skin care, routine consultations with healthcare providers are often beneficial in managing medical conditions and promoting personal growth and career development.
- The emergency room (ER) is not the ideal place for weight management or dermatological issues, nor for instances of acute social problems like homelessness or food insecurity.
- In life-threatening cases, patients should call emergency services (112), while for non-urgent issues, an initial evaluation via the medical on-call service (116 117) can help guide them to the appropriate treatment and avoid ER overcrowding.
- Some patients who visit the ER may have ongoing health issues, like chronic diseases or pain from injuries sustained during fitness and exercise, that could have been managed by a general practitioner at a later time.
- In addition to overcrowding, complementary challenges affecting hospital capacity include staff shortages and high patient volumes due to medical conditions like cancer and cardiovascular health problems.
- Policy and legislation efforts focused on workplace wellness and increasing access to education and self-development may help improve the outpatient sector and reduce non-emergency ER visits, providing a more effective means of addressing ongoing medical conditions.
- Addressing these issues, including patient behavior, improved outpatient care access, and telephone triage services, is essential for optimizing Germany's healthcare system and ensuring a balance between general news coverage, career development, and crime and justice topics.
