Since the end of 2017, when the first emergency clinic was established at the Clinical Centre of UD, developments aimed at faster and higher quality emergency services have gained momentum. Besides equipment, the staff has also been improved – currently nearly one hundred doctors and other medical professionals provide services to patients. In order to provide excellent services, equipment both at the outpatient and inpatient departments has been significantly improved.
- We established three fully equipped rooms where basic examinations can be carried out promptly. Multifunctional beds, blood sample equipment, ECG, complex monitoring system and supply trolleys suitable for use during operations are available in these rooms – said director Zoltán Szabó to hirek.unideb.hu.
About half of the 35,000 patients of the emergency clinic are treated with symptoms of acute cardiovascular condition. This is why Zoltán Szabó finds it a major improvement that the centre now has a state of the art heart ultrasound machine, which allows the staff to perform cardiology diagnostic at the centre.
- Acute abdomen conditions, blood vessel-related problems and soft tissue conditions are examined in two ultrasound labs now, we had only one earlier, which significantly speeds up the process – explained Zoltán Szabó.
Even life-saving surgical operations can be performed at the Emergency Clinic, owing to the new equipment. The examination of patients with a heart condition is supported by laboratory measurement. In the rooms where primary examinations are performed new devices have been installed for carrying out blood gas tests. For example, it can promptly detect carbon-monoxide concentration in the blood.
Zoltán Szabó explained that 60-100 patients visit the clinic every day. Waiting time depends on the condition of the patient. But the first assessment takes place within 5-7 minutes in each case. Priority of the cases is determined on the basis of the triage scale (1: requires immediate treatment, 2: critical, 3: urgent 4: less urgent, 5: minor condition).
The efficiency of the Emergency Clinic is at European level: assessment is performed within three hours in each case, treatment is started, and a decision is made whether the patient can leave the facility or requires further treatment. The Clinic applies a strict quality assurance system in order to provide fast and high-quality services.
Patients are informed about the triage scale through monitors installed at the lobby. Zoltán Szabó finds it important to educate patients, so in the waiting room movies about the development, prevention and treatment of common diseases are also displayed.
At the inpatient department of the Emergency Clinic life-support systems, defibrillators and other equipment necessary for intensive care have been installed. The clinic is planning to establish two more rooms for patients in serious condition or with potential infection.
The director pointed out that emergency services are highly supported by the new, tablet-based communication method of the National Ambulance Service. The cloud-based system allows medical professionals to gather prompt and accurate information about the emergency treatment of the patient and their medical history.
Importantly, starting in last October, the Emergency Clinic has provides primary care from Monday to Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4 pm. in Debrecen. In January 2019, the Clinic established the Acute Primary Care Unit, where doctors and EMS staff treat less urgent cases. The location of the emergency medical service has not changed: those who think they need immediate medical attention have to go to Building A of the Department of Internal Medicine. The Emergency Clinic can be accessed through the rear entrance.
On weekdays, patients can visit the clinic between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. On weekends emergency services are provided by Országos Orvosi Ügyelet Nonprofit Kft. at the same location.
Emergency services for those living near Debrecen and for trauma patients are still provided at the Kenézy Gyula Hospital.
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