2024-05-04 08:58:20
BOLZANO. In the sixth stage of the series of visits to local health facilities and public hospitals in the province, the provincial health councilor, Hubert Messnermet the employees and managers of the Lana health district and the “Tappeiner” hospital in Merano.
“Each location presents specific challenges, even if many problems overlap, which is why the exchange with those directly involved is very valuable,” reports Messner. During the meeting in Lana, general practitioners raised the issue of waiting times for first visits and diagnostic tests.
“Almost 50,000 MRI scans have been outsourced in 2023, but this is not enough to meet the growing demand,” the councilor noted. The percentage of visits prescribed as priority is also significantly increasing. Circumstances that require greater information and awareness on the adequacy of prescriptions. To stem the high use of emergency rooms, the need to provide more information on existing alternative contact points, such as the continuity of care service or general practitioners available on call, was highlighted.
“If acute hospitals want to survive as such, we must strengthen community care,” underlined Messner. At the Merano hospital, Messner discussed numerous issues such as the shortage of medical and nursing staff, competition from neighboring areas for young professionals in the sector, excessive bureaucracy and digitalisation. During the meeting he also reflected on how to maintain and expand existing skills, in view, for example, of the imminent retirement of experienced doctors. The planned introduction of robotic surgery, with the help of advanced technologies, could significantly increase its attractiveness for some medical specialists.
2024-05-04 08:58:20