"We save lives": an appeal to future doctors
Ministry of Health presents new campaign to increase adherence to emergency and emergency medicine
Every day, thousands of Italians in danger of death or seeking timely care, cross the threshold of first aid; only in 2023 were recorded 19.7 million accesses. But to ensure that everyone receives timely and effective care, more emergency-emergency doctors are needed. To solve this emergency, the “We save lives” campaign was launched at the Ministry of Health to increase the number of people who have specialized in emergency medicine.
A system under pressure
The numbers speak for themselves: Italian first aid is under pressure. Millions of accesses every year put a strain on an already fragile system. The shortage of specialised medical staff results in longer waiting times, a higher workload for healthcare workers and, in some cases, an increased risk to patients’ health.
The reasons for the shortage
Why is there this shortage of doctors specialized in emergency-urgency? The reasons are multiple:
- Intensive workload: Emergency work is extremely demanding, both physically and psychologically
- Irregular shifts: Emergency room doctors often work night, holiday and weekend shifts
- High stress: Continuous exposure to emergency situations and the need to make quick and difficult decisions can generate a high level of stress
“We save lives”: appeal to young doctors
In response to this emergency situation, the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Italian Association of Emergency Medicine Schools and with the participation of the University Policlinico Agostino Gemelli, has presented the new campaign “We save lives”. The campaign, which is aimed at medical graduates and undergraduates, will be spread in the months of September to November with the aim of increasing the number of applicants for specializations in emergency medicine.
Choose with your heart
“Our message is an invitation to young people to choose with their hearts” explains Francesco Franceschi, president of the Italian Emergency Medicine Schools and head of the Emergency Medicine Unit at the Gemelli University Hospital in Rome”. “Many medical students do their thesis in emergency medicine, but then choose other criteria, such as economic ones,” continues Franceschi. The campaign is very emotional, pointing out that despite the difficulties, the first aid work also offers great satisfaction: the possibility of saving lives and making a difference in the lives of others.
An investment for the future
Investing in the training of new emergency-emergency doctors means investing in the future of our health system. It is a way to ensure that all citizens have fair and timely access to care, even in the most critical situations.
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