Freiberg district hospital plans integrated emergency center

The Freiberg district hospital wants to expand its Central Emergency Department into an Integrated Emergency Center (INZ) and establish an Integrated Children's Emergency Center. According to the facility, which is a pioneer in Saxony, a structural realignment and expansion of the range of services is planned. The project will be implemented as a pilot project together with the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KV).

Lack of GPs and specialists

"An INZ is urgently needed in order to achieve more effective patient management," said Ralf Walper, Head Physician of the emergency department. Many patients in the emergency department actually require treatment by general practitioners or specialists in private practice. As they are unable to make appointments promptly or at all, patients simply come to the hospital. "This ties up valuable capacity for actual emergencies."

During a visit, Health Minister Petra Köpping (SPD) was impressed by how "progressive and always in the spirit of very good care" those responsible at the clinic are tackling current and future challenges. "In doing so, they are also strengthening cohesion in our society."

Only serious emergencies in hospital in future

The INZ is to have a KV emergency practice attached to it and an initial assessment of what treatment is required and where it will take place will be carried out at a "joint counter". The need for treatment in the emergency department will continue to increase in view of the decline in the number of doctors in private practice and the ageing population in the district of Central Saxony, said hospital managing director Matthias Stolze.