Berlin's emergency rooms are frequently utilized for non-urgent medical issues
Berlin, Germany - The city's emergency departments (EDs) are experiencing a high volume of non-emergency cases, according to the Berlin Hospital Association. To address this issue and improve the efficiency of emergency care resources, three patient navigation models have been evaluated in Berlin.
These models aim to differentiate between emergency and non-emergency cases, channeling non-urgent patients to outpatient services. The models include hospital-owned outpatient care, urgent care practices operated by the Regional Association of Statutory Health Insurance (SHI) Physicians, and a standard ED model where doctors assess patient urgency and care needs.
The navigation models are designed to improve efficiency, patient safety, quality of care, and cost-effectiveness by guiding patients to the most appropriate care settings. To make the best use of outpatient services and avoid unnecessary ED visits, patients are encouraged to:
- Use urgent care centers or outpatient practices for minor injuries, infections, or medical issues that do not require immediate emergency intervention.
- Seek preliminary assessment at outpatient units tied to hospitals or SHI-associated urgent care practices.
- Understand that EDs are intended primarily for true emergencies, and non-urgent cases may experience longer waits when visiting EDs directly.
- Follow local advice and navigation services established by health authorities or hospitals to identify the most appropriate site for care after initial symptoms appear.
These measures help maintain ED resources for critical cases while offering timely and effective care for less urgent health concerns through outpatient providers. However, a survey by AOK Nordost found that only 8% of respondents had obtained a preliminary assessment via 116 117 before visiting the emergency room.
Marc Schreiner, CEO of the Berlin Hospital Association, emphasized that many needs currently being served in Berlin's emergency departments would be better suited for the outpatient sector. He also urged for better patient guidance and treatment by general practitioners.
Unfortunately, the Berlin Hospital Association did not provide data on the number of non-emergency visits to the emergency department in a given time period or information on the impact of non-emergency visits on the hospital's resources. It was also noted that real emergencies have priority in the emergency room, which can lead to long waiting times for non-emergency cases.
Some non-emergency visits to the emergency department involve cases such as people seeking prescriptions or injections for medication, dealing with old sports injuries or surgical scars, or addressing acute social cases like homeless individuals needing new clothes or food.
Despite these challenges, there are several on-call practices for adults and children in Berlin that can help outside of regular office hours with illnesses. By following these guidelines, patients can help ensure that emergency department resources are reserved for genuine emergencies, while also receiving timely and effective care for less urgent health concerns through outpatient providers.
References: [1] Charité University Medicine Berlin, Patient Navigation Models in Emergency Care (2020) [2] Berlin Hospital Association, Guidelines for Non-Emergency Visits to Emergency Departments (2021)
- In an effort to improve workplace-wellness and health-and-wellness, the Berlin Hospital Association strongly recommends using outpatient services for non-emergency health issues, such as minor injuries, infections, or medical problems that do not require immediate intervention, to decrease the strain on emergency departments and allow them to focus on critical cases.
- The science behind patient navigation models in emergency care, as detailed in studies like the one by Charité University Medicine Berlin (2020), shows that these models can significantly enhance the efficiency, patient safety, and cost-effectiveness of emergency care resources by distinguishing between emergency and non-emergency cases.
- As part of a broader initiative to promote mental-health and general-news awareness, there is an ongoing need for improving patient guidance and treatment by general practitioners to encourage patients to utilize outpatient services and prevent unnecessary visits to the emergency department, thereby freeing up resources for other key areas, such as crime-and-justice.
