Remarkable picture in emergency departments: More than half of the applications are not urgent

Turkish Emergency Medicine Foundation Chairman of the Board Prof. Dr. Şahin Çolak explained that more than 50 percent of the patients who apply to emergency departments in Türkiye come to health institutions with non-urgent complaints.

Speaking at the 6th International Emergency Medicine Congress organized by the Turkish Emergency Medicine Foundation in Antalya's Kemer district, Çolak made evaluations about the patient density in emergency departments and the functioning of health services.

MORE THAN HALF OF THOSE WHO CONTACT THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT ARE NOT EMERGENCY

Stating that easy access to healthcare services in Türkiye is one of the reasons for the density in emergency departments, Çolak explained that the health conditions of patients are evaluated with the triage system.

Stating that patients are classified according to their emergency status, Çolak made the following statement:

"More than 50 percent of the patients who come to the emergency department in Türkiye are those who apply to the emergency room even though they are not urgent. They are directed to the green area and treated there."

Çolak emphasized that the urgency of the patients should be determined by the medical staff.

STATEMENT ABOUT THE WAITING PERIOD IN Türkiye

Stating that the patients were examined according to the determined priority order after triage, Çolak also gave information about the meeting times of the patients in the green area with the physician.

Çolak said that the time it takes for patients directed to green areas to meet with the doctor in the world is approximately 4 hours, and that in Türkiye, even in the busiest hospitals, this time is less than an hour.

Stating that in some clinics, 50 to 100 patients are accepted within an hour during busy hours, Çolak noted that thanks to the triage system, patients requiring urgent intervention are evaluated as a priority.

NEW STUDIES FOR DOMESTIC MEDICAL DEVICES

Stating that Türkiye has a significant potential in the field of medical product development and production, Çolak said that some products developed by ASELSAN have started to be used in the field of health.

Pointing out that automatic external defibrillators (AED) are of vital importance, especially in cases of cardiac arrest, Çolak explained that these devices allow the application of electric shock to suitable patients.

Stating that the relevant regulation has been published, Çolak stated that AED devices are expected to be used more widely in crowded areas in the future.

Çolak also stated that ASELSAN is also working on medical products such as heart-lung perfusion device and digital x-ray.

OVER THOUSAND HEALTH PROFESSIONALS PARTICIPATED IN THE CONGRESS

Stating that Türkiye's experience in health services has begun to be reflected in domestic medical product production, Çolak said that the public and private sector's work in this field continues.

Stating that more than 1000 emergency medicine professionals from different regions of Türkiye and various countries of the world attended the 6th International Emergency Medicine Congress held in Antalya, Çolak stated that current developments in the field of emergency medicine and common solution suggestions were discussed at the congress.