Overview
- The Joint Desk is a single reception point that screens walk-ins and sends true emergencies to the ER while routing minor cases to outpatient care.
- At Frankfurt’s Bürgerhospital, which launched the system in January 2026, staff use Germany’s standard SmED questionnaire to judge urgency at the door.
- Early figures from the hospital show about 58% of patients go on to the ER, while roughly 42% are safely sent home or treated ambulantly.
- Nurses and doctors report fewer disputes and clearer flows because patients get an explanation of the decision and written next steps.
- Four Hessian hospitals now run the model, and health leaders plan more sites in places like Bad Soden, Rüsselsheim, Heppenheim and Frankfurt-Nordwest, framing it as a blueprint for wider reform.