[Organizational context for the work of emergency departments in Germany: status quo, assessment of effects, and need for change for optimized care].

The functioning of emergency departments (ED) is considered an indicator of the effectiveness and efficiency of the healthcare system. In Germany, there is increasing pressure to improve emergency care. EDs are relatively autonomous organizational units that interact with other levels within and outside the hospital organization. Based on a model of organization-related care research, the current state of emergency care is described and barriers to and facilitators of change are discussed.A narrative review was used that includes literature sources on organizational impacts on the functioning of EDs. Publications were considered that, in addition to the interface perspective, have a relevance to the current state as well as to the proposed changes from the legislature and other actors. These were assigned to the respective organizational levels and (potential) effects were described. The macro-meso-micro model of organization-related health services research serves as a heuristic.Insufficient consideration of interdependencies and interfaces between organizational actors and levels of emergency care facilitates friction and hinders care innovation. At the macro level of the healthcare system, structures, responsibilities and financing are regulated, which significantly impact functioning at the meso and micro levels. At the meso-level of the hospital, the role of the ED is influenced by the difficulty of controlling patient flows and the lack of Diagnoses Related Groups (DRGs) to cover the costs for outpatient emergency care. The micro-level of the ED has to prioritize treatment and is confronted with the challenges of "exit blocks" when there are indications for patient transfer. Previous reform efforts did not take this organizational complexity into account.Reform proposals must take into account the organizational complexity and interests that arises from interfaces, interactions and stakeholder interests. Organization-related health services research can examine the contextual conditions that affect emergency care in order to derive recommendations for health care innovations.