The duration of patients' stay and treatment at Soroka's Frances and Nathan Kirsh Emergency Department, which is the most active in Israel, is the shortest of any of the large hospitals in the country. This achievement was announced in a report recently published by the Ministry of Health on the characteristics of the activity in emergency medicine departments in 2020. The report examined, among other things, the duration of treatment at the emergency medicine departments in Israel and the number of repeat referrals to them.
Deputy Director General of Soroka Medical Center and Head of the Internal Medicine Unit of the Department of Emergency Medicine Dr. Dan Schwarzfuchs remarked, "I am proud of the staff of the Department of Emergency Medicine at Soroka for the impressive achievement despite having to cope with high and challenging morbidity during the COVID-19 pandemic. The team was able to prove that excellent medical care can be provided together with optimal service."
The Ministry of Health recently published its findings regarding the characteristics of visits to emergency departments in Israeli hospitals. The data reveals that half of Soroka's visitors are discharged or hospitalized in inpatient wards in less than two hours and forty minutes after completing diagnostic tests, medical consultations, and other diagnostic or therapeutic steps.
Soroka's ED is the largest and busiest in Israel, yet it is ranked first among the large hospitals in duration of stay and treatment. Seventy-five percent of Soroka's ED patients are released within less than four hours. In addition, Soroka's rate of return visits within 24 hours of discharge from the ED is significantly lower than the rates of return visits at at other hospitals in the country. This finding attests to the excellent teamwork and commitment of the ED staff members and the high-quality, readily available, and accessible treatment they provide to the residents of the Negev.
Dr. Schwarzfuchs noted, "The ED staff at Soroka treats the area's population with great dedication and expertise. The objective findings of the Ministry of Health reflect a reality in which the duration of stay at Soroka's ED, which is Israel's largest and most active, is the shortest in the country. There is no doubt that our cooperation with the various units and departments at Soroka allows us to work more efficiently and reach these impressive achievements, all for the sake of our patients' well-being."
Dr. Schwarzfuchs explained, "The data means that over 75% of patients who come to Soroka's ED complete medical treatment in just half an hour to four hours, including laboratory and imaging tests and consultations with doctors from various fields in order to provide the best treatment and service while ensuring quality of care. The residents of the South can certainly rest assured that at Soroka they are in good hands."
Director General of Soroka Dr. Shlomi Codish, added, "I am proud of the dedicated work of the staff in all sectors for the exceptional achievement, which expresses great commitment and dedication to the health of the residents of the Negev. The Department of Emergency Medicine, which is a critical part of the hospital, is at the forefront in times of routine and in times of emergency, and proves, year after year, our tremendous capabilities, despite challenges such as COVID-19 and escalations in the security situation. The residents of the Negev can certainly feel safe.
