Murnau accident clinic: With corona incidences, the number of staff absences increases

Created: 07/06/2022, 12:00 p.m

By: Silke Reinbold-Jandretzki

The summer wave hasn't arrived yet: the Murnau accident clinic.

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The corona summer wave has not yet arrived at the Murnau accident clinic - at least as far as the patients are concerned.

The program for Covid patients with long-term consequences is in great demand.

Murnau

– The house is considered a first-class address when other hospitals come to the end of the road with the most severe Covid 19 courses.

The professional association accident clinic Murnau (BGU) can offer the whole range of medical options, including lung replacement procedures.

Overall, says Carola Krumbacher, responsible for public relations and communication, “around 170 Covid patients were treated in our clinic” during the course of the pandemic.

Accident clinic: Two corona patients in the normal ward, one affected person in intensive care

At the moment the Corona situation in the BGU is calm - with the exception of the huge demand that the post-Covid program for people with long-term complaints is causing.

With the incidences in the district, the number of hospitalizations also fell at the end of May.

On Tuesday, two of these patients were in the normal ward, and one patient was in intensive care.

“Fortunately, there are currently no other seriously ill corona patients listed there,” says Krumbacher.

So far you haven't felt a summer wave - so time to catch your breath, but only with a view to Covid.

As every summer, the clinic is confronted with a large number of leisure-time accidents. The focus is now on what Krumbacher calls “our core mission”: It is about providing acute care for people with injuries and occupational diseases and subjecting them to rehabilitation.

Corona: Staff shortages are a burden for the clinic

The increasing incidences are not without consequences.

Although they are not yet reflected in the wards, they are reflected in the employees.

“We are still seeing some staff shortages,” says Krumbacher.

Analogous to the incidences in the district, these are increasing in the national trauma center - and "of course mean a burden on the supply situation in the clinic".

In acute cases, however, “there are no restrictions at any time”.

Trauma clinic has not given notice to anyone who has not been vaccinated

Far from all employees have been vaccinated so far.

According to Krumbacher, the percentage of staff – around 2,200 people work in the BGU in total – is around 85 percent.

A facility-related corona vaccination has been mandatory for this since mid-March.

According to the specifications of the Bavarian Ministry of Health, all employees without basic immunization were reported to the Garmisch-Partenkirchen Health Department, which “has not yet issued a ban on employment”, says Krumbacher.

The clinic did not take any steps under labor law of its own accord: no one was dismissed.

Anyone who does not have basic immunization (at least two doses) must present a negative antigen test every working day before starting work.

BGU patients of all types no longer require proof to enter the clinic, unlike visitors.

Irrespective of the vaccination status, these must present a negative result including a certificate.

Post-Covid program is experiencing high demand with waiting times

"Very high demand," says Dr.

Andrea Fürst, Chief Physician for Neurology, Neurophysiology and Stroke Unit, lists the Murnau accident clinic according to the post-Covid program.

This is aimed at people with statutory accident insurance who are infected with the virus at work and suffer from a wide variety of long-term consequences - from exhaustion (fatigue) to lung problems and depression - which often make it impossible to return to everyday life.

The program consists of three pillars, all of which are in high demand:

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Post-Covid patients: Three pillars are available

The Murnau specialists examined more than 120 patients in the outpatient post-Covid consultation, which lasts about three hours.

This is used “for the first assessment” of insured persons with long-term consequences in order to optimally control the healing process right at the beginning and to coordinate further diagnostic and therapy planning, explains Fürst.

"Another 54 new registrations are on the waiting list," and new patients are added every week.

Due to the high demand, “waiting times are to be expected”.

The post-Covid check, which 54 people affected have undergone, is an inpatient clarification procedure that lasts up to ten days - "with the aim of working out possible therapy options at the end of the stay," explains Fürst.

It includes extensive diagnostics.

31 victims are registered and are currently waiting for their appointment.

Fürst says: "Due to the high demand, waiting times are also to be expected here."

If necessary, the post-Covid check is followed by inpatient rehabilitation.

If neurological symptoms are in the foreground, this will take place on site in the BGU.

In the case of respiratory problems, the BG sister clinic for occupational diseases in Bad Reichenhall is the specialist for further steps.

Great demand: "We are aware that waiting times can be a burden"

In addition, 113 post-Covid consultations have been booked so far.

This is an online offer from the professional associations for health services and welfare, which developed the program with the BG clinics.

There are two to three appointments per week, and “about eight to twelve cases” are processed.

"We are aware," explains the chief physician, that "the waiting times can be a burden" for patients.