Controversy Over “Sager”

Chamber of Labor Takes a Stand Against Patient Hotels

Staying overnight as a patient, just like at a hotel? A charming idea—but of course only if you have the necessary cash.(Bild: EXPA/ JFK)

So-called “patient hotels” are set to replace overnight hospital stays following “minor” surgeries in the future—at least according to the spokesperson for the Order’s Hospitals in Upper Austria. The goal is to relieve the burden on hospitals, create new capacity, and save costs at the same time. The Upper Austrian Chamber of Labor opposes this. It argues that this would shift the costs onto the patients.

More and more people are dissatisfied with the state of the healthcare system. Only 40 percent of Upper Austrian Chamber of Labor members surveyed are satisfied with the hospitals in our state, while 23 percent can no longer find anything positive to say about them. Dissatisfaction is particularly high among those who need the healthcare system the most or who have limited financial resources. For example, 38 percent of those whose income is insufficient are dissatisfied with the hospitals, and among people with chronic illnesses, this figure stands at 29 percent.

Dissatisfaction Is Rising
More and more people are dissatisfied with the state of the healthcare system. Only 40 percent of the AK OÖ members surveyed are satisfied with the hospitals in our state, while 23 percent can no longer find anything positive to say about them. Dissatisfaction is particularly high among those who need the healthcare system the most or who have limited financial resources. For example, 38 percent of those with insufficient income are dissatisfied with hospitals, while among people with chronic illnesses, this figure stands at 29 percent.

Not everyone can afford such “hotels”
The implications of ideas like “patient hotels” are clear: services
are being outsourced from the hospital at the expense of the insured. But not everyone will be able to afford these additional expenses. Last year, Austrians paid 24.4 percent of healthcare costs out of pocket, in addition to their social security contributions. The Austrian Health Insurance Fund (ÖGK) has also already cut services, such as patient transport or dental care. “There must be no further financial burdens on patients,” says AK President Andreas Stangl.

It is also unclear how the necessary quality is to be ensured. There is concern that the healing process could be jeopardized if patients no longer receive the care—which is often necessary—in the hospital.

Fair and Transparent Scheduling of Surgical Procedures
“We need equitable, high-quality health care for everyone in Upper Austria. Waiting times for public health care services must be drastically reduced across the board, and there needs to be a fair and transparent system for scheduling surgeries,” says AK President Andreas Stangl.