IKK project for patients with heart failure

„IKK Herzstark“ gives insured a better quality of life: the telemedicine project of IKK Südwest was launched in April 2012

04/04/2012

The IKK Südwest is breaking new ground in the care of its insured. In April 2012 is the telemedicine project „IKK Herzstark“ for patients suffering from chronic heart failure. In the coming days, IKK Südwest will call the insured who are eligible for the project. The program is free of charge for the participants.

Heart failure is one of the most common medical conditions. In Germany, more than three million people suffer from it. „We want to give these insured persons more security in dealing with their illness. Telemedicine allows us to improve the medical care for you“, emphasizes Lutz Hager, Managing Director Supply of IKK Südwest.

The term „telemedicine“ refers to the transmission of medical data by electronic means. For example, the attending physician can receive texts, tables, findings or pictures of his patients without them having to be in practice or in the hospital. Depending on the severity of the condition, patients will be equipped with a balance, a blood pressure monitor and, if necessary, a 12-lead ECG.

The vital signs are regularly transmitted to the Telemedical Center. „The patients learn about telemedicine a more conscious handling of their illness and feel safer in their everyday life“, explains Dr. Lutz Hager. This is largely due to the fact that the telemedicine center is staffed around the clock, 365 days a year, with doctors and healthcare professionals. Patients have the opportunity, for example, to get up in the middle of the night in case of cardiac distress and to measure an ECG independent of the practice opening hours. In case of an emergency, the telemedicine center will inform the ambulance accordingly.

IKK Südwest points out that telemedicine care supplements the treatment by the specialist or general practitioner, but by no means replaces it. „IKK Herzstark gives chronically cardiac patients more safety in everyday life, greater freedom of movement and thus a higher quality of life. These benefits also help the treating physicians“, says Frank Lambert, Head Contracting Partner of IKK Südwest. The vital signs are recorded in an electronic medical record and are available to the treating physicians with the consent of the patient online or by fax. The basis for the assessment of the incoming vital signs are the regular examination results of GPs and specialists, which are stored in the file.

The project „IKK Herzstark“ leads the IKK Südwest with the SHL Telemedizin GmbH. Affected parties can request further information about IKK Herzstark from IKK Südwest by calling +49 (0) 81 81 996 96-5222 or by e-mail at [email protected]. (Pm)