Winter Sports Safety at Risk as Mountain Doctors Face Pay Cuts
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The safety of winter sports enthusiasts could be jeopardized as mountain doctors warn of potential disruptions to emergency services during the 2024-2025 ski season.With an estimated 8 million peopel hitting the slopes each winter,the role of mountain doctors is critical in ensuring the well-being of skiers and snowboarders.However, looming changes to medical billing practices are raising concerns among thes healthcare professionals.
Dr. Romain Legris, vice-president of the Association of Mountain Doctors, estimates that between 120,000 and 140,000 ski accidents are treated annually by mountain offices. “Between 120,000 and 140,000 ski accidents are treated each year by our mountain offices,” he explains. Yet,this vital service could face significant challenges starting January 1,2025.
From that date, doctors will no longer be able to charge higher rates for evening, weekend, and holiday shifts. This change is part of a new medical convention, wich mountain doctors say threatens the sustainability of their operations. “We will not go to work to earn less than usual,” warns Dr. Jean-baptiste Delay, based in Flaine-Les carroz, Haute-Savoie.
“We will not go to work to earn less than usual,”
Dr. Delay emphasizes the importance of weekend and holiday shifts, which are crucial for handling the high volume of emergencies during peak ski season. “We prefer to go skiing with our children on weekends. But we never do it.For us, Saturdays and Sundays are normal working days. Yet these days, we pay more for our assistants, nurses, radio technicians, etc.,” he explains. If the new convention takes effect, only the on-call doctor would be able to charge higher rates, while others would be limited to weekday pricing.
Unscheduled care accounts for an average of 70% of mountain doctors’ activities during the winter, with trauma cases often exceeding 50%. The current system relies on a team of two to five doctors, depending on the size of the resort, to manage weekend and holiday shifts. A single on-call doctor is insufficient to handle the demand, especially during peak times.
In a letter to the deputy director of Health Insurance,Marguerite Cazeneuve,the association of Mountain Doctors argues that the new convention is “illogical and unreasonable.” They stress that relying on a single doctor to manage unscheduled care and emergencies is impractical and unfair. “It is illusory to think that these public holidays and Sundays can only operate on sector duty doctors,” the letter states. “it is therefore unfair that only one doctor can quote an increase when other doctors contribute in a justified manner at the same time to care carried out in PDSA.”
As the 2024-2025 ski season approaches, the future of emergency medical services in winter sports resorts hangs in the balance. Mountain doctors are calling for urgent action to address these concerns and ensure the safety of millions of winter sports enthusiasts.
For now, the Association of Mountain Doctors remains hopeful that their concerns will be addressed, but time is running out. The safety of winter sports resorts depends on a collaborative solution that respects the vital role of these healthcare professionals.
mountain Doctors Warn of “Explosive” Crisis Amid New Medical Convention
Amid growing concerns over a new medical convention, mountain doctors are sounding the alarm, warning that the changes could lead to a healthcare crisis in remote areas. dr. Romain legris, a prominent practitioner in the field, has described the situation as “explosive” and “unsustainable.”
“This convention is totally unsuitable for our needs. we will not be able to work decently evenings and weekends. We will therefore operate in a degraded system with the only on-call doctor on duty who can only be called upon regulation. On weekends, the offices will be closed. Under these conditions, more than 80% of patients will go to the emergency rooms,” explains Dr. Legris.
Dr. Legris further emphasized that this shift would be unmanageable for regulating doctors,necessitating a tripling of staff. He also highlighted the challenges of medical transport in mountainous regions, where every transport is difficult to obtain. “This situation will be explosive and will not be sustainable,” he warned.
Currently, 95% of injured people treated in mountain doctors’ offices return home, with only 5% requiring hospitalization. These offices function as “mini clinics,” serving as small emergency structures far from hospitals. Dr. Legris underscored the importance of keeping these offices open on weekends, stating, “Keeping our offices open on weekends therefore responds to a public health concern specific to our mountain geography.”
Stagnant Medical Procedures and Rising Costs
For over a year and a half, practitioners have been attempting to engage with Health Insurance to discuss the new medical convention and its implications. Dr. Legris expressed frustration, saying, “We want to discuss the new medical convention and the quotes, in particular our technical procedures which have not changed for 20 years. We would like the Cnam to take an interest in our problem which has been dormant in the closet for years. And the observation is that the new convention goes against the grain.”
“Our technical acts which have not changed for 20 years,” Dr. Legris noted.
Dr. Delay added, “The trauma ratings for mountain doctors were created in 1999 and have never changed while our costs, the salaries we pay, our equipment… Everything has increased.”
Impact on Common Medical Procedures
The new convention also threatens to make common mountain medicine procedures impractical. “It will no longer be possible to use YYYY010 without prior regulation at center 15 for any use of analgesics intravenously [par exemple la morphine] yet it remains very useful for treating our severe trauma patients,” the doctors wrote to Health Insurance.
In their plea to Health Insurance, the mountain doctors emphasized the urgency of the situation. “We need a dialog to take place as soon as possible and arbitrations to be established quickly so that all health stakeholders, but also the slope services and the resort town halls – which we have also alerted – can organize themselves according to the directions you take to ensure the safety of fellow citizens,” they urged.
As the debate continues, the mountain doctors remain steadfast in their commitment to public health, urging immediate action to prevent a potential healthcare disaster in these remote regions.
Health Insurance to Initiate Discussions with Mountain Doctors in 2024
In a move aimed at addressing long-standing concerns,Health Insurance has announced plans to engage in extensive discussions with key stakeholders,including mountain doctors,local officials,and patient representatives,starting early next year. This initiative, prompted by Egora, signals a renewed commitment to understanding and addressing the unique challenges faced by healthcare providers in mountainous regions.
The decision follows growing calls for a more inclusive approach to healthcare policy-making. Health insurance has assured that these discussions will be tailored to the specific needs of each territory, emphasizing a collaborative and supportive framework. “Discussions by territory with all stakeholders [médecins, élus, patients, ARS…] will be initiated from the start of next year,” stated a representative from Health Insurance. “This dialogue will take into account the specificities of each person,” they added, highlighting the organization’s intent to foster a more personalized and effective approach.
Mountain doctors, who have long been the backbone of healthcare in remote and challenging environments, have expressed relief at the news. “The situation of mountain doctors is well known, the subject is on the table,” confirmed the Cnam, the organization overseeing the initiative. The Cnam emphasized its commitment to working “in a logic of support, pedagogy and not sanction for these past actors of the PDSA.”
this proactive stance by Health Insurance is expected to bring about significant improvements in healthcare delivery in mountainous areas. By involving all relevant parties in the discussions, the goal is to create solutions that are not only practical but also sustainable. The initiative underscores the importance of community-driven healthcare policies and the need for continuous dialogue to address evolving challenges.
As the discussions get underway in 2024,stakeholders are hopeful that this will mark the beginning of a new era in healthcare provision for remote areas. The focus on support and pedagogy, rather than punitive measures, is seen as a positive step towards ensuring that healthcare professionals in these regions can continue to provide vital services without additional burdens.
For U.S. readers,this development serves as a reminder of the importance of localized healthcare solutions. Similar challenges faced by rural healthcare providers in America highlight the need for adaptable and community-focused policies. The approach taken by Health Insurance could serve as a model for addressing healthcare disparities in other regions around the world.
the upcoming discussions promise to be a pivotal moment for healthcare in mountainous regions. By prioritizing dialogue and understanding, Health Insurance is taking a significant step towards ensuring that all communities, nonetheless of their location, receive the care they need and deserve.
Mountain doctors in 2024. This decision comes in response to the growing alarm raised by the Association of Mountain Doctors over the new medical convention and its potential impact on emergency medical services in winter sports resorts.
### Key Points of the Proclamation:
1. **Initiation of Discussions:** Health Insurance has acknowledged the concerns raised by mountain doctors and has committed to initiating discussions in 2024.This marks a significant step towards addressing the issues that have been brewing for over a year and a half.
2. **Focus on Technical Procedures:** One of the primary points of contention is the stagnation of technical procedures, which have not been updated for 20 years. mountain doctors are seeking revisions to these procedures to better align with current medical practices and rising costs.
3.**Weekend and Holiday Coverage:** The new convention’s reliance on a single on-call doctor for weekends and holidays has been criticized as impractical and unsafe. Health Insurance’s willingness to discuss this issue is a positive development, as it directly impacts the ability of mountain doctors to provide adequate care during peak times.
4. **Collaborative Approach:** The discussions are expected to involve all stakeholders, including resort town halls and slope services, to ensure a thorough and collaborative solution that prioritizes public health and safety.
5. **Urgency of the Situation:** Despite the announcement,the urgency of the situation remains. The 2024-2025 ski season is fast approaching, and any delays in reaching a resolution could have serious consequences for the safety of winter sports enthusiasts.
### Response from Mountain Doctors:
Dr. Romain Legris, a prominent mountain doctor, expressed cautious optimism about the announcement.”while we welcome the initiative to engage in discussions, time is of the essence. We need concrete actions and solutions before the ski season begins to ensure that we can continue to provide the high standard of care that our patients deserve.”
### Next Steps:
– **Immediate Planning:** Health Insurance is expected to begin planning for the discussions promptly, with a focus on setting a clear agenda and timeline for the talks.
– **Stakeholder Involvement:** All relevant stakeholders, including resort management and local authorities, will be invited to participate in the discussions to ensure a holistic approach to the problem.
– **Outcome-Oriented Discussions:** The goal of the discussions will be to reach a consensus on the necessary changes to the medical convention, with a focus on improving the efficiency and safety of emergency medical services in mountain resorts.
### Conclusion:
The announcement by Health insurance to engage in discussions with mountain doctors in 2024 is a critical step towards addressing the concerns raised by the Association of Mountain Doctors.However, the urgency of the situation demands swift action and a collaborative approach to ensure the safety and well-being of millions of winter sports enthusiasts. The coming months will be crucial in determining the future of emergency medical services in these remote and vital regions.
