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The Emergency Medical System in Greece: Opening Aeolus’ Bag of Winds

Author

Listed:
  • Ourania S. Kotsiou

    (Respiratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, Biopolis, 41500 Larissa, Greece)

  • David S. Srivastava

    (Inselspital, University Hospital Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland)

  • Panagiotis Kotsios

    (International Business Department, Perrotis College, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece)

  • Aristomenis K. Exadaktylos

    (Inselspital, University Hospital Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland)

  • Konstantinos I. Gourgoulianis

    (Respiratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, Biopolis, 41500 Larissa, Greece)

Abstract

An Emergency Medical Service (EMS) system must encompass a spectrum of care, with dedicated pre-hospital and in-hospital medical facilities. It has to be organised in such a way as to include all necessary services—such as triage accurate initial assessment, prompt resuscitation, efficient management of emergency cases, and transport to definitive care. The global economic downturn has had a direct effect on the health sector and poses additional threats to the healthcare system. Greece is one of the hardest-hit countries. This manuscript aims to present the structure of the Greek EMS system and the impact of the current economic recession on it. Nowadays, primary care suffers major shortages in crucial equipment, unmet health needs, and ineffective central coordination. Patients are also facing economic limitations that lead to difficulties in using healthcare services. The multi-factorial problem of in-hospital EMS overcrowding is also evident and has been linked with potentially poorer clinical outcomes. Furthermore, the ongoing refugee crisis challenges the national EMS. Adoption of a triage scale, expansion of the primary care network, and an effective primary–hospital continuum of care are urgently needed in Greece to provide comprehensive, culturally competent, and high-quality health care.

Suggested Citation

  • Ourania S. Kotsiou & David S. Srivastava & Panagiotis Kotsios & Aristomenis K. Exadaktylos & Konstantinos I. Gourgoulianis, 2018. "The Emergency Medical System in Greece: Opening Aeolus’ Bag of Winds," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-14, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:15:y:2018:i:4:p:745-:d:140901
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Simou, Effie & Koutsogeorgou, Eleni, 2014. "Effects of the economic crisis on health and healthcare in Greece in the literature from 2009 to 2013: A systematic review," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 115(2), pages 111-119.
    2. Konstantinos Pouliakas & Ioannis Theodossiou, 2013. "The Economics Of Health And Safety At Work: An Interdiciplinary Review Of The Theory And Policy," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 27(1), pages 167-208, February.
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    Cited by:

    1. Ourania S. Kotsiou & Panagiotis Kotsios & Konstantinos I. Gourgoulianis & Vaios Kotsios, 2020. "Fighting with the Lernean Hydra: Greek Humanitarian Crisis Enters Worst-Case Scenario. Comment on: Joseph, L.; Ismail, S.A.; Gunst, M.; Jarman, K.; Prior, D.; Harris, M.; Abbara, A. A Qualitative Rese," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-3, November.
    2. Alexandra Jablonka & Christian Dopfer & Christine Happle & Georgios Sogkas & Diana Ernst & Faranaz Atschekzei & Stefanie Hirsch & Annabelle Schäll & Adan Jirmo & Philipp Solbach & Reinhold Ernst Schmi, 2018. "Tuberculosis Specific Interferon-Gamma Production in a Current Refugee Cohort in Western Europe," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-8, June.
    3. Osnat Keidar & David S. Srivastava & Emmanouil Pikoulis & Aristomenis K. Exadaktylos, 2019. "Health of Refugees and Migrants—Where Do We Stand and What Directions Should We Take?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(8), pages 1-8, April.
    4. Ourania S. Kotsiou & Panagiotis Kotsios & David S. Srivastava & Vaios Kotsios & Konstantinos I. Gourgoulianis & Aristomenis K. Exadaktylos, 2018. "Impact of the Refugee Crisis on the Greek Healthcare System: A Long Road to Ithaca," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-18, August.
    5. Ourania S. Kotsiou & Vaios S. Kotsios & Konstantinos I. Gourgoulianis, 2020. "Enhanced Public Interest in Response to the Refugee and Healthcare Crises in Greece," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-6, March.
    6. Liz Joseph & Sharif A. Ismail & Meghan Gunst & Kate Jarman & Dina Prior & Matthew Harris & Aula Abbara, 2020. "A Qualitative Research Study Which Explores Humanitarian Stakeholders’ Views on Healthcare Access for Refugees in Greece," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(19), pages 1-17, September.

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