Assistance and Urgency Centers: Urgent Healthcare Service in Parma
New Services for Urgent and Non-Severe Healthcare Needs
The Assistance and Urgency Centers (CAU) are opening in Parma (Italy) and its province to improve access to urgent and non-severe healthcare services. Discover everything you need to know about these new points of reference for healthcare in the Emilia-Romagna region.
The Emilia-Romagna Region has launched an innovative initiative to ensure timely and appropriate care for urgent but non-severe healthcare needs of citizens. These are the Assistance and Urgency Centers, or CAU, which are opening in Parma and its province as part of a broader reorganization of the regional emergency and urgency healthcare system. These centers, operational 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, will be a valuable resource for the community, starting from December 19th at the Maggiore Hospital in Parma, followed by the Fidenza CAU at the Vaio Hospital on December 28th.
Addressing Urgent Needs without Overcrowding the Emergency Room
The CAU aims to address urgent but non-severe healthcare needs, while simultaneously reducing overcrowding in the Emergency Rooms, where only the most severe cases will be directed. This initiative aims to provide citizens with qualified and timely responses to their healthcare needs while ensuring efficient management of healthcare resources. Thanks to the opening of CAU, citizens can access immediate care without the need for prior appointments or referrals from their primary care physicians. Access is based on a first-come, first-served basis, with exceptions made for specific assessments by the staff that may require a change in the order of access.
Flexible Access Hours for Maximum Convenience
One of the strengths of the CAU in Parma and Fidenza is their continuous availability. These centers will be open 24/7, ensuring flexible access for patients. This feature is crucial in responding to healthcare needs that can arise at any time, day or night. Thanks to this flexibility, citizens can rest assured that they have access to healthcare resources when they need them.
The Role of the General Practitioner
Despite the opening of CAU, it is important to remember that the general practitioner remains the primary point of reference for the population’s healthcare. These professionals serve as the main link between patients and the healthcare system, with a network of 268 physicians, primarily organized in group practices. In addition, there are 60 family pediatricians serving the age group from 0 to 14 years old. In cases of healthcare emergencies where a person’s life or safety is at risk, it is always necessary to call the emergency number 118 or go to the Emergency Room.
Expansion of CAU Services in the Future
The opening of CAU in Parma and its province is just the beginning of a larger project. Starting in January, the plan includes the opening of additional CAU centers in Fornovo and Langhirano, both in dedicated locations near the existing community centers in their respective municipalities. Throughout the coming year, further openings are scheduled in the four healthcare districts, ensuring comprehensive coverage across the territory to meet the healthcare needs of the population.
In conclusion, the Assistance and Urgency Centers represent a valuable resource for the healthcare system in Parma and its province. With flexible access hours and the ability to respond to urgent but non-severe healthcare needs, these centers improve access to healthcare services, reduce overcrowding in Emergency Rooms, and ensure timely and appropriate care for patients. However, it is important to emphasize that the general practitioner remains the primary point of reference for healthcare, especially in emergency situations. With additional openings planned in the near future, CAU is poised to become a fundamental component of the local healthcare system.