In orthopedics and trauma surgery, there is both over- and under-care of patients
18.01.2011 12:21
In Germany there are currently more than nine orthopedists and trauma surgeons per 100,000 inhabitants - and therefore very good care compared to other European countries. However, in some regions patients have to travel long distances to see a specialist: This is already problematic, especially in emergency care or complicated procedures. At the same time, there are figures that suggest that in some areas more medical care is being provided than necessary. Experts from the German Society for Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery (DGOU) recently discussed which measures can prevent both under- and over-supply in the future at the Berlin event “DGOU Future Workshop 2010”.
In Germany there are currently more than nine orthopedists and trauma surgeons per 100,000 inhabitants - and therefore very good care compared to other European countries. However, in some regions patients have to travel long distances to see a specialist: This is already problematic, especially in emergency care or complicated procedures. At the same time, there are figures that suggest that in some areas more medical care is being provided than necessary. Experts from the German Society for Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery (DGOU) recently discussed which measures can prevent both under- and over-supply in the future at the Berlin event “DGOU Future Workshop 2010”.
“As a specialist society, we must take active action when orthopedists and trauma surgeons provide services that are not necessary,” emphasize Professor Dr. med. Fritz Uwe Niethard, Secretary General DGOU and Professor Dr. med. Hartmut Siebert, Deputy Secretary General DGOU. So far there is nothing more than indications: data from health insurance companies see a high increase in costs, especially in the areas of endoprosthetics and spinal surgery. This increase cannot be explained by the aging population alone. However, which factors actually lead to more interventions have not yet been researched. Initiatives for well-founded, meaningful health services research is therefore one of the tasks that the experts take away from the Berlin event.
Given the far-reaching consequences for each affected patient, it is also necessary to improve emergency care. The specialists discussed several options for this. In Brandenburg, for example, a network of practicing specialists with clinics and an outpatient care service has been being tested for several months. Delegating medical activities to assistant and nursing professions could also - if the legal basis for this is created - at least partially compensate for scarce medical resources. “Whether it will one day be necessary to use an 'orthomobile' in some regions to which sick and injured people need to be transported for orthopedic and trauma surgery or whether there will even be 'flying doctors' is still an open question,” say Niethard and Siebert. However, there is agreement that active action is required by both medical societies and political decision-makers.