The high workload is a constantly recurring problem in the emergency room at the University Hospital in Uppsala.
– It is really a challenge to handle. I am more concerned about the work environment situation than patient safety. The staff is professional – they identify problems and solve them, says Mikael Köhler who is the director of health and medical care in the Uppsala region.
He thinks that the 6:6A report (a request made when there are physical deficiencies in the work environment) made to the Swedish Work Environment Authority last year is reasonable. The authority threatened a fine of SEK 200,000 if Akademiska did not come up with an action plan before the end of March this year.
“The Last Outpost”
Mikael Köhler believes that the heavy workload is largely due to the changing demographics.
– People are living longer and more people are suffering from multiple sclerosis. The need for this type of care has increased in a short time. We don’t really have time to get involved in the transition.
He believes that the pressure will then be extra hard on the emergency department.
– The emergency department is the only department that receives patients around the clock, all year round. It’s the last outpost.
In the video above, you will hear which three measures Mikael Köhler considers to be the most important to deal with the work environment problems in the emergency department.
