Problem with Hospitalization of Cardiac Patients: Frequent Returns to Emergency Departments

The German healthcare system is grappling with the growing problem of rehospitalization of people suffering from chronic heart failure. As consistently reported by key newspapers, including Handelsblatt, Die Welt, and Süddeutsche Zeitung, patients often return to emergency departments shortly after their health stabilizes and they are discharged from the hospital. This situation is referred to as an "acute emergency case," which sheds light on the failure of outpatient care structures and the lack of continuity of treatment between inpatient and outpatient care. Heart failure is currently one of the most common causes of hospitalization in Western Europe, generating enormous costs for the health insurance system. The concept of integrated care in cardiology has evolved since the 1990s, when it was noted that surgical or pharmacological intervention in the hospital alone does not guarantee long-term improvement without strict supervision by a cardiologist at the patient's place of residence. Data analysis indicates that the main cause of acute heart failure relapses is improper medication dosing after leaving the medical facility and insufficient patient education regarding monitoring body weight and edema. Medical experts cited in the publications emphasize that modern cardiology has tools for remote patient monitoring, but their widespread implementation faces bureaucratic and financial barriers. Outpatient care must be strengthened to relieve overcrowded clinics, which currently act as "revolving doors" for this group of patients. This problem particularly affects the elderly, whose coexisting conditions complicate the therapeutic process and require a holistic approach from general practitioners and specialists. „Viele Herzschwäche-Patienten landen mehrfach im Krankenhaus” (Many heart failure patients end up in the hospital multiple times) — Representative of the medical sector Conclusions from reports suggest that without systemic changes in the financing of long-term care, hospitals will continue to struggle with excessive burdens. Poland, like Germany, also faces the challenge of optimizing the KOS-Serca model, which aims to provide comprehensive care after heart attacks and in cases of heart failure. Coordinated programs are considered the most effective method for reducing the number of deaths and readmissions to hospitals. Ultimately, combating frequent hospitalizations requires not only financial resources but, above all, a paradigm shift in care towards a greater focus on home-based prevention and telemedicine, which would allow for early detection of disease exacerbations before they become life-threatening conditions.

Perspektywy mediów: The media emphasize the crisis in the public health system and the need to increase funding for social care. The emphasis is placed on the inefficiency of facility management and the need for technological innovations in treatment.