@article{HeinzEidmannJakuscheitetal.2023,
  author    = {Heinz, Tizian and Eidmann, Annette and Jakuscheit, Axel and Laux, Tino and Rudert, Maximilian and Stratos, Ioannis},
  title     = {Demographics and trends for inbound medical tourism in Germany for orthopedic patients before and during the COVID-19 pandemic},
  series = {International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health},
  volume    = {20},
  journal   = {International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health},
  number    = {2},
  issn      = {1660-4601},
  doi       = {10.3390/ijerph20021209},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-304955},
  year      = {2023},
  abstract  = {Medical tourism is a rapidly growing sector of economic growth and diversification. However, data on the demographics and characteristics of the traveling patients are sparse. In this study, we analyzed the common demographic properties and characteristics of the inbound medical tourists seeking orthopedic medical care in Germany for the years 2010 to 2019 compared to a domestic group. At the same time, we examined how the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak of 2020 changed the field of medical tourism in Germany. Calculations were performed using administrative hospital data provided by the Federal Statistical Department of Germany. Data were analyzed from the years 2010 to 2020. A total of six elective orthopedic surgery codes (bone biopsy, knee arthroplasty, foot surgery, osteotomy, hardware removal, and arthrodesis) were identified as key service indicators for medical tourism and further analyzed. Factors including residence, sex, year, and type of elective surgery were modeled using linear regression analysis. Age and sex distributions were compared between patients living inside Germany (DE) or outside Germany (non-DE). Between 2010 and 2020, 6,261,801 orthopedic procedures were coded for the DE group and 27,420 key procedures were identified for the non-DE group. Medical tourists were predominantly male and significantly younger than the domestic population. The linear regression analysis of the OPS codes over the past years showed a significantly different slope between the DE and non-DE groups only for the OPS code "hardware removal". With the COVID-19 pandemic, an overall decline in performed orthopedic procedures was observed for the non-DE and the DE group. A significant reduction below the 95\% prediction bands for the year 2020 could be shown for hardware removal and foot surgery (for DE), and for hardware removal, knee arthroplasty, foot surgery, and osteotomy (for non-DE). This study is the first to quantify inbound medical tourism in elective orthopedic surgery in Germany. The COVID-19 pandemic negatively affected many — but not all — areas of orthopedic surgery. It has to be seen how this negative trend will develop in the future.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{GesslerLehmannBoeseletal.2021,
  author    = {Gessler, Florian and Lehmann, Felix and B{\"o}sel, Julian and Fuhrer, Hannah and Neugebauer, Hermann and Wartenberg, Katja E. and Wolf, Stefan and Bernstock, Joshua D. and Niesen, Wolf-Dirk and Schuss, Patrick},
  title     = {Triage and Allocation of Neurocritical Care Resources During the COVID 19 Pandemic - A National Survey},
  series = {Frontiers in Neurology},
  volume    = {11},
  journal   = {Frontiers in Neurology},
  issn      = {1664-2295},
  doi       = {10.3389/fneur.2020.609227},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-221593},
  year      = {2021},
  abstract  = {Objective: In light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the associated hospitalization of an overwhelming number of ventilator-dependent patients, medical and/or ethical patient triage paradigms have become essential. While guidelines on the allocation of scarce resources do exist, such work within the subdisciplines of intensive care (e.g., neurocritical care) remains limited. Methods: A 16-item questionnaire was developed that sought to explore/quantify the expert opinions of German neurointensivists with regard to triage decisions. The anonymous survey was conducted via a web-based platform and in total, 96 members of the Initiative of German Neurointensive Trial Engagement (IGNITE)-study group were contacted via e-mail. The IGNITE consortium consists of an interdisciplinary panel of specialists with expertise in neuro-critical care (i.e., anesthetists, neurologists and neurosurgeons). Results: Fifty members of the IGNITE consortium responded to the questionnaire; in total the respondents were in charge of more than 500 Neuro ICU beds throughout Germany. Common determinants reported which affected triage decisions included known patient wishes (98\%), the state of health before admission (96\%), SOFA-score (85\%) and patient age (69\%). Interestingly, other principles of allocation, such as a treatment of "youngest first" (61\%) and members of the healthcare sector (50\%) were also noted. While these were the most accepted parameters affecting the triage of patients, a "first-come, first-served" principle appeared to be more accepted than a lottery for the allocation of ICU beds which contradicts much of what has been reported within the literature. The respondents also felt that at least one neurointensivist should serve on any interdisciplinary triage team. Conclusions: The data gathered in the context of this survey reveal the estimation/perception of triage algorithms among neurointensive care specialists facing COVID-19. Further, it is apparent that German neurointensivists strongly feel that they should be involved in any triage decisions at an institutional level given the unique resources needed to treat patients within the Neuro ICU.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{FuchsEdenGilbertetal.2021,
  author    = {Fuchs, Konrad F. and Eden, Lars and Gilbert, Fabian and Bernuth, Silvia and Wurmb, Thomas and Meffert, Rainer H. and Jordan, Martin C.},
  title     = {F{\"u}hrt eine COVID-19 bedingte Ausgangsbeschr{\"a}nkung zu einer Reduktion schwerverletzter Patienten an einem {\"u}berregionalen Traumazentrum?},
  series = {Der Unfallchirurg},
  volume    = {124},
  journal   = {Der Unfallchirurg},
  issn      = {0177-5537},
  doi       = {10.1007/s00113-020-00924-1},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-232547},
  pages     = {352-357},
  year      = {2021},
  abstract  = {Hintergrund Intensiv- und Beatmungskapazit{\"a}ten sind f{\"u}r die Behandlung COVID-19-erkrankter Patienten essenziell. Unabh{\"a}ngig davon beanspruchen auch schwer verletzte Patienten h{\"a}ufig Intensiv- und Beatmungskapazit{\"a}ten. Daraus ergibt sich folgende Fragestellung: F{\"u}hrt eine Ausgangsbeschr{\"a}nkung zu einer Reduktion schwer verletzter Patienten, und kann hierdurch mit frei werdenden Intensivkapazit{\"a}ten gerechnet werden? Material und Methoden Es erfolgte eine retrospektive Auswertung schwer verletzter Patienten mit einem Injury Severity Score (ISS) ≥16 zwischen dem 17.03.2020 und 30.04.2020 (landesweiter Shutdown) an einem {\"u}berregionalen Traumazentrum. Erfasst wurden der Unfallmechanismus, ISS, Versicherungstr{\"a}ger (BG vs. GKV/PKV), ob es sich um einen dokumentierten Suizidversuch handelte, und ob eine operative Intervention innerhalb der ersten 24 h erforderlich war. Als Kontrollgruppe wurden die Daten des gleichen Zeitraums der Jahre 2018 und 2019 ausgewertet. Ergebnisse Es konnte keine wesentliche Ver{\"a}nderung bez{\"u}glich der Anzahl an schwer verletzten Patienten festgestellt werden (2018 n = 30, 2019 n = 23, 2020 n = 27). Es zeigten sich insgesamt keine deutlichen Ver{\"a}nderungen der absoluten Zahlen bez{\"u}glich der Intensivpflichtigkeit in den ersten 24 h und der Beatmungspflichtigkeit beim Verlassen des Schockraums. Die Anzahl an Patienten, die eine Operation innerhalb der ersten 24 h nach Eintreffen im Schockraum ben{\"o}tigten, war 2020 sogar leicht erh{\"o}ht, jedoch nicht statistisch signifikant. Der durchschnittliche ISS blieb konstant. Bez{\"u}glich der Unfallursache zeigte sich 2020 kein Motorradfahrer, der einen nicht berufsgenossenschaftlich versicherten Unfall erlitt (2018 n = 5, 2019 n = 4, 2020 n = 0). Es wurde 2020 ein erh{\"o}hter Anteil an Arbeitsunf{\"a}llen mit einem ISS ≥16 festgestellt (2018: 10 \%, 2019: 26,1 \%, 2020: 44,4 \%). Diskussion Eine Ausgangsbeschr{\"a}nkung f{\"u}hrte zu keiner Reduktion verletzter- und intensivpflichtiger Patienten am untersuchten Zentrum. Auch unter einer landesweiten Ausgangsbeschr{\"a}nkung muss f{\"u}r dieses Patientenkollektiv eine ausreichende Menge an Intensiv- und OP-Kapazit{\"a}ten vorgehalten werden. Die Best{\"a}tigung dieser Ergebnisse durch Auswertung nationaler Register steht noch aus.},
  language  = {de}
}