2024-07-17 14:31:48
Lauterbach’s reform
This is what emergency patients have to deal with
Updated on 17.07.2024 – 12:17Reading time: 3 min.
Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach is planning a reform of emergency care. What you should know now.
The reform of emergency care in Germany is set to bring about a number of changes for patients. In the case of acute complaints, the emergency room is the first port of call for many people, especially at weekends or in the evenings. This is usually stressful and a long wait. In future, emergency patients will be better guided through the healthcare jungle. According to the cabinet decision planned for today, the reform will be discussed in parliament by Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD). What the insured can expect:
Two new features are being introduced: In acute control centers, patients will receive an initial assessment of how to proceed by calling a nationwide number. They can be reached on 116 117. So-called integrated emergency centers will also be set up nationwide under the direction of hospitals, at some locations also for children and young people. In the emergency centers, the hospital’s emergency room is combined with an emergency service practice.
You fear that you need immediate treatment – what should you do?
There will be several options in the future, but the telephone service is to be expanded significantly. When calling 116 117, you should receive an initial assessment within three minutes at the latest in 75 percent of cases, otherwise it should only take a little longer. Patients can be sent to the nearest emergency center by the specialists over the phone.
If the case turns out to be an emergency, it should be forwarded immediately to 112 so that an ambulance can arrive. Telemedicine doctors can be connected directly for an assessment. The government expects that telephone advice should prevent unnecessary visits to emergency rooms. The acute control centers will be linked with the appointment service centers: doctor’s visits can then be arranged directly over the phone. Anyone who ends up in the emergency center via 116 117 should be able to get there more quickly.
An initial assessment should be made at the reception desk of the integrated emergency centers (INZ): Where should those seeking help go next – the emergency room or a nearby emergency practice? Lauterbach’s stated goal: Patients should be treated where it is best and quickest.
The INZs should be distributed throughout the country in such a way that at least one is always easily accessible. The opening hours of the connected emergency practices: always until 9 p.m. in the evenings – including weekends and public holidays.
The doctor may consider a visit to the practice or clinic to be unnecessary by telephone or video. In such a case, an electronic prescription or electronic sick note should also be able to be issued.
Emergency rooms and rescue services are often at their limits. According to the Ministry of Health, one in three people in an emergency room would be better off in a doctor’s office. This is also because many people simply do not know what to do if they suddenly need medical help at night or on the weekend. Many end up in the emergency services and ultimately in hospital.
The Association of General Practitioners warned that the reform would fail because there was a lack of the necessary staff and “parallel structures” were to be set up. The National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KBV) praised positive approaches. However, the KBV doubted that it could be fully implemented due to a lack of staff – for example for the planned expansion of home visits.
The health insurance companies praised the proposals – Stefanie Stoff-Ahnis, deputy head of the GKV umbrella association, said: “The emergency law contains many correct starting points to improve the care of our insured people.” The health insurance companies also have a warning for Lauterbach: the associations of statutory health insurance physicians must not be faced with insoluble personnel problems. Stoff-Ahnis welcomed the planned obligation of the associations of statutory health insurance physicians to provide uniform information about doctors’ office hours on the Internet nationwide as a new form of transparency.
The ministerial round is to decide on several proposals from the health department this Wednesday. Unlike today, kidney donations should also be possible between two couples in the future. In order to strengthen the prevention of diseases, a new federal agency, the Federal Institute for Prevention and Education in Medicine (BIPAM), is to be launched on January 1, 2025. Parts of the Robert Koch Institute and the Federal Center for Health Education are to be merged into it. And in order to drive forward digitalization in the health care system, the existing so-called gematik is to be expanded into a digital agency.