Reorganisation of the emergency network in the province of Verona

Abstract Background In recent years, in the provincial context of Verona, has been perceived an increasing pressure on the Emergency Room (ER). There was therefore a need to identify possible actions to optimize the emergency network. The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of the first corrective measure implemented: the redistribution of the municipalities’ afferences. Methods Data on the actual number of beds in each facility and on the emergency equipment were obtained from the various medical directions. Once the population/bed index had been calculated, it was adjusted according to the characteristics of the various facilities. Based on these data, the redistribution of afferences was carried out. The period monitored in the study covers the first three months after the reorganisation (January 2024) in comparison with the same period in 2023. The data collected were used to calculate both activity indicators for the PS and the Urgent Emergency Medical Service (UEMS). Results With a stable number of calls recorded in the two periods examined (20,366 in 2023 and 20,255 in 2024), with regard to the locations affected by the redistribution of municipalities, there is a decrease in the number of ambulance calls in San Bonifacio (-7.5%) and Villafranca (-16.2%) and an increase in Peschiera (+13.6%) and Negrar (+16.5%) compared to the quarter of the year 2023. There is no significant increase in Borgo Roma. Conclusions The organizational structure of the emergency services in the province of Verona is part of a highly complex framework. In any case, this first change has proved to be effective in addressing some of the factors influencing the contribution of the ER, but the overall impact and extent of the change will have to be studied in depth in order to optimize the network as much as possible. Key messages • The reorganisation of such a complex area is a very difficult challenge, but the path we are taking seems to be the right one. • It will also be necessary to act at the level of the internal processes of each ER in order to successfully complete the reorganization.