On the first of November this year, Region Värmland took over medical advice in 1177. The care guide after the region's politicians chose not to extend the agreement with Medhelp. After just a month and a half, the region is seeing some results.

- It is a simpler and clearer way for patients to enter and through care, says Unit Manager Anna Löwenhamn.

There are three so-called traffic rooms where the calls to 1177 come. They are located in Karlstad, Torsby and Arvika and a total of about 30 nurses now work with care coordination, which means that they will pilot the patient right through the care. According to the region, this is made possible by 1177 having the same medical record system as other health care in Värmland, which region is the first in the country with.

Fewer patients to the emergency room

On average, the nurses receive 400-500 calls per day and most patients call weekdays between 08 and 16:30. Of those who contacted 1177 in the first month after the acquisition, 7,670 patients were referred to an emergency room, which can be compared with 8,131 patients the same month last year.

- We see an effect of the care coordination, says Anna Löwenhamn.

Initially more expensive

The agreement with Medhelp cost about SEK 14 million per year and Region Värmland sees an increased cost initially after the acquisition:

- Initially it will be more expensive when we build three traffic rooms at three locations in Värmland and we have education costs, but we see the benefits ahead, especially for the patient, says Anna Löwenhamn.