As of: January 25, 2024, 9:48 a.m
By: Karolin Schaefer
Comments
Press
Split
Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach wants to relieve the burden on emergency rooms.
The ministry has planned some changes for this purpose.
Kassel – Doctors' organizations and nursing staff have been complaining about overcrowded emergency rooms for years.
Now something is happening in the medical care landscape in Germany.
The Federal Ministry of Health, led by Karl Lauterbach (SPD), is planning a comprehensive reform of emergency care.
Emergency care reform planned: What this means for the emergency number
This applies, among other things, to emergency calls.
The control centers on 112 and the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians on 116 117 are to be networked in the future.
This means that anyone who calls one of the two numbers should always receive the support they need quickly.
If the symptoms are mild, a call to 112 can also result in a visit to a doctor's office.
However, in an emergency, an ambulance should also be dispatched via 116 117.
Karl Lauterbach's Ministry of Health is planning an extensive reform of emergency care.
© Funke Photo/imago
Lauterbach is reforming emergency care: comprehensive emergency centers are planned
Integrated emergency centers (INZ) are also planned at hospitals, as can be seen from the ministry's key points.
There should be an emergency center and an outpatient emergency service practice in the immediate vicinity for every 400,000 inhabitants.
An initial assessment of the patient’s complaints should then be carried out at a “common counter”.
“In an emergency, patients should be treated where they can receive the quickest and best care.
It doesn't always have to be the hospital.
In many cases, emergency acute care makes much more sense,” said Lauterbach.
Emergency centers for children and young people are also planned.
According to a model calculation by the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds, around 730 integrated emergency centers are needed in Germany.
Here, patients should not only receive medicines they need in the short term.
You should also be offered appointments for further treatment.
Anyone who has serious problems in the future will have to go to an emergency center.
The next step will then be decided there.
My news
Man loses six kilos in 30 days - and only forgoes reading one thing
Almost every ready-made pizza fails the Ökotest: Disaster for four manufacturers – Aldi product wins
Home remedies for heartburn: ARD shows secret recipe made from four ingredients
Germany-wide vegetable recall started: Rewe and Kaufland affectedread
The healthiest vegetables in the world – list shows surprising 1st place reading
Supply chains interrupted by rail strike – what does that mean for supermarkets and the post office? read
“Save patients unnecessary journeys”: What Karl Lauterbach’s emergency reform provides
A lot is also expected to happen when it comes to telemedicine.
The e-prescription, which is issued digitally in a doctor's office, has been around since the beginning of the year.
Such a prescription can also be issued by telephone or video call if doctors do not consider a visit to the office or clinic to be necessary.
This also applies to electronic sick notes.
Patients do not always have to leave the house to receive treatment.
Telemedical care should be available to patients around the clock.
“This saves patients unnecessary trips and prevents long waiting times in emergency rooms and doctor’s offices,” explained Lauterbach.
In the future, a sick note should be issued during home visits and also in emergency centers.
And when should the reform come?
Patients will have to be patient a little longer as the emergency rooms will hopefully be empty.
The planned law is scheduled to apply from the beginning of 2025.
(kas/dpa)