Avoiding Over a Million Hospital Stays Each Year: The Potential of Better Organized and Individualized Care
The German healthcare system has been operating at full capacity for quite some time now. Yet, this doesn't have to be the norm, according to a study conducted by Barmer. According to their research, with a focus on early intervention and tailored care, up to 1.3 million hospital stays for individuals requiring care could be averted annually.
In order to achieve this, experts advocate for a shift toward more efficient care structures. By establishing local, cross-sector care facilities that combine various medical professionals, doctors' practices, and nursing services, individuals in sparsely populated areas can receive better care and avoid unnecessary hospital stays.
The report highlights that between 2017 and 2022, an average of around 280,000 patients in need of care or on the brink of needing care were treated in hospitals each month. These cases often could have been treated by primary care physicians or in nursing homes with improved medical conditions and targeted care.
The Impact of Early Intervention and Targeted Care
According to the study's author, Heinz Rothgang from the University of Bremen, patients with chronic conditions such as cardiac insufficiency and diabetes could avoid hospital admission with early, targeted care. Aging patients with such illnesses would usually not require an inpatient stay under optimal circumstances. However, the necessary framework conditions must be established for this to happen.
In these cases, hospital stays can stretch up to 2.7 additional days if care needs to be organized after admission. The experts also emphasize the importance of expanding short-term care to mitigate these extended stays.
Benefiting Rural Areas
The potential benefits of improved organization and individualized care extend to rural areas in Germany as well. By implementing digital health interventions like telemedicine and app-supported programs, rural areas can access advanced medical technologies, reducing healthcare costs and improving patient outcomes.
The Importance of Early Diagnosis and Prevention
Implementing continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) devices, like those used in Glytec studies, can play a crucial role in the early detection and management of blood sugar levels. By equipping patients with personalized treatment plans based on genetic studies and biomarkers, practitioners can improve the overall efficacy of diabetes treatment. Enhanced patient engagement through user-friendly app-supported programs can also help individuals adhere to treatment plans better, thereby reducing hospital stays.
Integrating psychological support with medical care can further improve patient outcomes and manage comorbid conditions more effectively. However, engagement in app-supported programs seems to be limited among older patients. Sustained efforts are necessary to create more accessible technological solutions for this age group.
Overall, implementing improved organization and individualized care strategies for diabetic patients can produce significant benefits. These approaches have the potential to reduce hospital stays, improve access to advanced technologies, lower healthcare costs, and enhance patient outcomes in rural areas.
