President of the Zurich Hospital Association: Hospitals must radically reorganize
Published: Wednesday, Nov 22nd 2023, 06:00
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The President of the Association of Zurich Hospitals (VZK) advocates a change in the care paradigm in hospitals - to counter the shortage of specialists: "We need to radically convert hospitals to outpatient care," says Christian Schär.
This would mean that patients would not spend the night in hospital before and after an operation. "This does not require shift operation, but is possible on five days from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.," said Schär in an interview with Tamedia published on Wednesday. "If we treat as many outpatients as possible, we will massively alleviate the shortage of specialists."
To achieve this, however, the outpatient tariff would have to cover costs, said Schär. Today, it only covers 84 percent of operating costs. "Our financing system penalizes the hospital if it treats patients as outpatients instead of inpatients."
Schär: Pressure too low so far
Such a far-reaching change in favor of working conditions in the healthcare sector is necessary to counter the shortage of skilled workers, according to Schär. "So far, there hasn't been enough pressure to change anything. Before Covid, hospitals were still doing better financially and foreign specialists were able to help out with staff. But things will get worse in the future."
According to the VZK President, the measures of the care initiative are not sufficient - and are limited in time. "The nursing initiative is important because it promotes training. Hospitals, schools and students should receive more money," explained Schär. "However, it will not bring about a sustainable improvement." The younger generation is no longer prepared to work three shifts seven days a week.
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