Clipping Board » Medical Affairs and Administration ─ Medical system, pharmaceuticals, and medical community-related reports
[United News Network] 2007/12/25
Reporters Lin Xiumei and Hu Zongfeng / Connected Report
As the year-end approaches, many patients are seeking medical attention, and recently, numerous residents in Kaohsiung have complained about the difficulty in securing appointments and hospital beds, forcing them to spend more on emergency services. This has led to a surge in emergency visits at large teaching hospitals, overwhelming medical staff. Hospitals have revealed that this is a "strange phenomenon" following the implementation of the health insurance total payment cap.
Zhang Liyun, chairman of the Medical Reform Foundation, stated that the significant increase in emergency visits at medical centers is a result of "mutual harm among peers." She suggested that patients waiting for beds in emergency rooms should call local leaders and the Ma and Xie teams to remind politicians to pay more attention to the hardships faced by the public.
The Emergency Department of Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital held a Christmas event yesterday, but due to the overwhelming number of patients, beds were arranged in the emergency hall, corridors, near restrooms, and even next to ATMs, leading to widespread complaints. "I didn't come here for Christmas gifts," said a female patient lying next to an ATM. She had been admitted to the emergency room at Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital the day before due to gallbladder inflammation and spent the night there. Although her condition stabilized yesterday, she was moved next to the ATM while waiting for test results, where the noise from the machine disturbed her peace and prevented her from enjoying the Christmas event.
"Having patients lie in the hall and corridors is not what the hospital desires," said Zhang Hongtai, director of the Emergency Department at Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, and Guo Liangji, an emergency physician at Kaohsiung Medical University. They both noted that since winter began, there has been a significant increase in cardiovascular diseases, but some hospitals, claiming to be full, have been transferring patients to larger hospitals.
Li Wenhui, director of the Emergency Department at Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, said that as the year-end approaches, many hospitals, having reached their health insurance quotas, are using "full beds" as an excuse to transfer patients, sending these "health insurance hot potatoes" to medical centers.
He mentioned that the emergency room is overcrowded, with respiratory care wards and intensive care units already full. Recently, they have been continuously urging other medical institutions through the emergency medical system not to transfer patients to Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, but patients keep coming.
Currently, there are over 40 people waiting for beds in the emergency room at Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital. Due to the difficulty in securing appointments and hospital admissions, even Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu has received calls from the public seeking help, prompting her to ask the Health Bureau to devise strategies. Public relations staff at major hospitals are also overwhelmed with calls for assistance.
According to statistics from the Kaohsiung City Emergency Medical Information Integration Center, the number of emergency visits in the city this year is about 400,000, a sharp increase of 20,000 compared to last year.
He Qigong, director of the Kaohsiung City Health Bureau, acknowledged that some hospitals have reduced outpatient and inpatient services due to health insurance total payment caps, leading patients to seek emergency care instead. Huang Zhizhong, director of the Kaohsiung County Health Bureau, stated that they will investigate whether hospitals are using "full beds" as an excuse to transfer patients or force discharges. If evidence is found, strict penalties will be imposed, and patients are encouraged to file complaints or reports with the Health Bureau.
Source: http://tw. news. yahoo. com/ article/ url/ d/ a/ 071225/ 2/ qiu7. html
Year-End ER Overload Due to Cap Control Anomalies
Reporters Lin Xiumei and Hu Zongfeng / Connected Report
As the year-end approaches, many patients are seeking medical attention, and recently, numerous residents in Kaohsiung have complained about the difficulty in securing appointments and hospital beds, forcing them to spend more on emergency services. This has led to a surge in emergency visits at large teaching hospitals, overwhelming medical staff. Hospitals have revealed that this is a "strange phenomenon" following the implementation of the health insurance total payment cap.
Zhang Liyun, chairman of the Medical Reform Foundation, stated that the significant increase in emergency visits at medical centers is a result of "mutual harm among peers." She suggested that patients waiting for beds in emergency rooms should call local leaders and the Ma and Xie teams to remind politicians to pay more attention to the hardships faced by the public.
The Emergency Department of Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital held a Christmas event yesterday, but due to the overwhelming number of patients, beds were arranged in the emergency hall, corridors, near restrooms, and even next to ATMs, leading to widespread complaints. "I didn't come here for Christmas gifts," said a female patient lying next to an ATM. She had been admitted to the emergency room at Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital the day before due to gallbladder inflammation and spent the night there. Although her condition stabilized yesterday, she was moved next to the ATM while waiting for test results, where the noise from the machine disturbed her peace and prevented her from enjoying the Christmas event.
"Having patients lie in the hall and corridors is not what the hospital desires," said Zhang Hongtai, director of the Emergency Department at Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, and Guo Liangji, an emergency physician at Kaohsiung Medical University. They both noted that since winter began, there has been a significant increase in cardiovascular diseases, but some hospitals, claiming to be full, have been transferring patients to larger hospitals.
Li Wenhui, director of the Emergency Department at Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, said that as the year-end approaches, many hospitals, having reached their health insurance quotas, are using "full beds" as an excuse to transfer patients, sending these "health insurance hot potatoes" to medical centers.
He mentioned that the emergency room is overcrowded, with respiratory care wards and intensive care units already full. Recently, they have been continuously urging other medical institutions through the emergency medical system not to transfer patients to Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, but patients keep coming.
Currently, there are over 40 people waiting for beds in the emergency room at Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital. Due to the difficulty in securing appointments and hospital admissions, even Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu has received calls from the public seeking help, prompting her to ask the Health Bureau to devise strategies. Public relations staff at major hospitals are also overwhelmed with calls for assistance.
According to statistics from the Kaohsiung City Emergency Medical Information Integration Center, the number of emergency visits in the city this year is about 400,000, a sharp increase of 20,000 compared to last year.
He Qigong, director of the Kaohsiung City Health Bureau, acknowledged that some hospitals have reduced outpatient and inpatient services due to health insurance total payment caps, leading patients to seek emergency care instead. Huang Zhizhong, director of the Kaohsiung County Health Bureau, stated that they will investigate whether hospitals are using "full beds" as an excuse to transfer patients or force discharges. If evidence is found, strict penalties will be imposed, and patients are encouraged to file complaints or reports with the Health Bureau.
Source: http://tw. news. yahoo. com/ article/ url/ d/ a/ 071225/ 2/ qiu7. html