News item | 05-04-2023 | 9:00 am
Each year, around 1500 seriously injured patients do not end up directly in a regional trauma center. That is one third of the total number of seriously injured patients. The agreement is that at least 90% of these patients are treated in a trauma center. The National Health Care Institute has made recommendations to Minister Kuipers (Public Health, Welfare and Sport) on how this so-called multi-trauma standard can be achieved in 2024.
Too many patients with serious, life-threatening injuries are not treated in a regional trauma center. Research shows that treatment in a trauma center can save lives, even if it is not the nearest hospital. Agreements have therefore been made with the parties involved in the Integral Care Agreement (IZA) to ensure that the 90% multi-trauma standard is achieved within the foreseeable future. The advice of the Zorginstituut contains concrete recommendations, such as improving triage and making regional agreements to prevent a stopover in the nearest hospital. If these recommendations are followed, it should be possible to achieve the standard in 2024. Minister Kuipers will enter into talks with the parties involved to agree on how the recommendations can be implemented as soon as possible.
Minister Ernst Kuipers: “There are three important points that need to change in acute care. Firstly, acute care must fully meet the minimum quality requirements that we have. Secondly, regional care coordination is needed, so that patients with an acute but non-life-threatening care needs are immediately helped in the right place and by the right care provider. Finally, it is important that people with a serious, life-threatening condition are immediately taken to a center that is equipped for their condition. The care for multi-trauma patients is of paramount importance the latter is an example. I am pleased with this advice, too many patients are not receiving the best care at the moment. With this advice, the parties involved can and must work to achieve the standard quickly.”