The Dutch Association of Internists (NIV) warns that hospitals should not further scale down outpatient care, despite the growing number of corona patients. According to the umbrella organization, poorer treatment of patients with chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart and kidney failure leads to more complications. As a result, even more patients come to the Emergency Department.
In addition, the continuation of outpatient care is “essential” to determine the urgency of a patient’s complaints.
The NIV points out that during the first wave of corona infections, many patients stayed out of the hospital, as a result of which clinical pictures were missed or were discovered too late. “There is a real chance that we will not see all patients with cancer, coagulation disorders, immune disorders and kidney failure in time, so that we can start the treatment too late. This could lead to permanent organ damage that we could have prevented, or in the worst case unnecessary death “, according to the internist association.
By: ANP | Photo: ANP
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