Emergency care

On September 2, 2024, NHS England published service specifications for same-day emergency care (SDEC). The SDEC model allows patients to be assessed, diagnosed, and treated on the same day of arrival instead of being admitted to a hospital. The specification defines the scope, care pathways, patient selection, referral to SDEC, and requirements for staff and quality.

On May 4, 2024, the Reimbursement Commission of the Social Security Institution released an updated version of the Healthcare Implementation Communique (SUT). Three new MedTech field codes were introduced to relevant Annexes of the SUT, including FAST Ultrasonography; transcutaneous pacemaker application, and critical patient bed and follow-up in the emergency department.

On March 1, 2024, the updated Benefit Order was published in the Official Journal of the French Republic. Notable updates encompass modifications to existing emergency care supplements and the addition of new ones for non-hospitalized emergency care services, such as laboratory tests, imaging, specialist consultations, out-of-hours care, and specific provisions based on patient condition and age.

On February 1, 2023, the Treatment Council made its first two recommendations based on the major analysis reports regarding handheld focused ultrasound in emergency medicine and artificial intelligence as decision support for colonoscopy. The adoption of these technologies was not recommended.

The HTA body of the Tuscany Regional Healthcare issues two types of documents: HTA forms and motivational forms. With regional decree 10778 of June 01, 2022, Tuscany Regional Healthcare has published assessments of nine medical devices in various therapeutic areas, such as cardiovascular and peripheral vascular areas, surgical procedures, orthopedics, and dermatology.

On June 7, 2022, the Innovation Committee at the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) published the overview of the 32 innovative healthcare research projects that will be funded. The projects concerning the technologies belonging to eHealth, obstetrics and gynecology, pulmonary and airways, orthopedics, and other technology groups received funding.

On December 9, 2021, the Danish Treatment Council (Behandlingsråd), during its meeting, approved three topics selected for developing the so-called major analyses (større analyser) in 2022. The approved topics include handheld focused ultrasound in emergency medicine, artificial intelligence (AI) as decision support for colonoscopy, and intelligent/high-tech beds for use in intensive care units.

In late October 2021, the Treatment Council (Behandlingsråd) published three topics chosen for developing the so-called major analyses (større analyser) in 2022. The selected topics include patient-centered diabetes technology, hand-held focused ultrasound in emergency medicine, and artificial intelligence as decision support for colonoscopy.

On the 5th of April, 2019, NHS Improvement has announced the start of implementation of same day emergency care model, which is a provision of same day care for emergency patients who would otherwise be admitted to hospital. Headaches, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolus, pneumonia, cellulitis, and diabetes are available for the treatment in a framework of same day emergency care model.

This guide offers useful guidance on emergency patient flow to identify a large cohort of patients who can safely be treated on the same day, reducing admissions and improving the patient experience.