Does X‐ray imaging by GPC at emergency care access points in the Netherlands change patient flow and reduce ED crowding? A cohort study

摘要

ObjectiveOrganizing out‐of‐hours emergency care is a challenge in many countries. In the Netherlands, general practitioner cooperatives (GPCs) and emergency departments (EDs) are increasingly working together, creating one emergency care access point (ECAP). This has redirected the majority of patients with musculoskeletal problems from the ED to the GPC in out‐of‐hours care, due to the treatment of self‐referrals by the general practitioner (GP). Only a minority of the GPs at ECAPs have the possibility to request X‐rays, and expanding these facilities could reduce patient presentations to the ED even more. The aim of our study was to explore patient flow and possible reductions in ED referrals at an ECAP with X‐ray facilities for GPs.