Aftonbladet came along during a work shift at Örebro’s emergency department and witnessed the challenging and demanding nature of the job. Emergency physician Stella Cizinsky treated 14 patients in nine hours, both in person and over the phone. While the number of patients was not overwhelming for Stella, the real challenge lies in prioritizing the really sick patients.
As the evening begins, an ambulance arrives at the University Hospital in Örebro. Doctors rush past wearing green suits, while inside the emergency operating room, they work feverishly to save the life of a man in his 30s. Meanwhile, paramedics roll an empty and bloody stretcher out of the room.
Nine hours earlier, Stella Cizinsky was preparing for her shift at the emergency department. As a senior physician in cardiology and director of operations at the heart and lung physiology clinic, her days are often filled with a constant stream of patients. The summer months are particularly challenging as regular staff members go on vacation and waiting rooms fill up.
During her shift, Stella sees a variety of patients, from those experiencing chest pains to elderly individuals with various ailments. She constantly juggles patient visits and phone calls from other doctors seeking advice. Despite always having enough doctors present, there is usually a shortage of experienced nurses in the emergency room. Nurses who temporarily fill in during the summer may lack the necessary experience to handle emergencies.
Stella also raises concerns about the capacity of the emergency room. She believes that many patients who come to the ER could have received treatment from their local health center. The problem lies in the referrals made by 1177, health centers, and digital doctors for hire. This overloads the emergency room and leads to long waiting times for those who are truly in need of urgent care. Stella suggests that primary care needs to be better organized to ensure patients are directed to the appropriate level of care.
Throughout her shift, the number of patients steadily grows, with 40 patients in the emergency room at one point. Stella explains that the emergency department has a system to determine when it is too crowded, based on the number of high triage patients and whether alarms are being responded to in a timely manner.
Despite the challenges, there are success stories. One patient, Olle, experienced chest pains and was brought in by an ambulance. He praises the efficiency and care he received, saying that everything in the emergency room worked smoothly. However, not all patients are in the right place, as some who could have been treated at a health center end up in the emergency room due to referrals.
As Stella’s shift comes to an end, the number of patients has reached 38. She reflects on the demanding nature of her job and rarely takes breaks. The discussion about the shortcomings of 1177 resurfaces, highlighting the issue with minimizing risk rather than addressing patients’ needs.
In conclusion, the article sheds light on the daily challenges faced by emergency physicians like Stella Cizinsky. Despite the difficulties, she remains dedicated to providing the best possible care to her patients. However, the issue of patient referrals and the shortage of experienced nurses in the emergency room need to be addressed to ensure efficient and timely care for all.