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Techniker-Krankenkasse offers patients online medical consultation
Since 1 September tested the Techniker-Krankenkasse (TK) in cooperation with the Federal Association of German dermatologists (BVDD) the online video consultation nationwide with selected medical practices. At this the doctor advises the patient online on the screen, explains e.g. Questions about the medication or gives assessments of healing processes. According to the TK, a computer with an internet connection, a web browser and a webcam is sufficient as equipment. According to the cash register, "the door to real telemedicine in the ambulatory medical area" should be opened by the network consulting hour.
Via video telephony for online consultation
In the future, consultations over the Internet will save patients time and latency. Since the beginning of this month, therefore, the Techniker Krankenkasse (TK) is testing the implementation of online consultation hours via video telephony together with the Federal Association of German Dermatologists (BVDD). In this case, the patient first arrives in a "waiting room" via an appointment tan, after which the doctor calls one after the other into his virtual practice. As the cash register informs, this can be started on any computer with an internet browser and a conventional webcam. The offer is made possible by a special software developed by the Lübeck start-up company Patientus GmbH.
For the first time in Germany medical online consultation started. Picture: ldprod - fotolia Discuss diagnosis and therapy in personal contact
The health insurance explained that online consultations should also relieve doctors' practices. However, this is not always possible. Thus diagnosis and therapy would have to be discussed in personal contact. Among other things, the project will test whether the online consultation is an alternative or supplement to repetitive appointments in practice. "Once the patient has been to my practice, a quick glance and a short conversation are often sufficient for follow-up - in the future, no patient will have to make it to my surgery," Dr. Klaus Strömer in a press release. The dermatologist, who is also president of the BVDD, is one of the first physicians to test the program.
Telemedicine as a measure against rural doctors shortage
"Video consultation, for example, seems to be particularly suitable for discussing a change in medication. Or to clarify the course of the disease - for example, wound healing after an operation - as well as for the review of the therapeutic success or for patient training in the course of a longer treatment, "said Strömer. As the TK reported, online consultation hours should gradually become possible in all practices.
"Digitalisation gives us completely new ways to look after people's health. There is great potential to make medical care better and more efficient ", Dr. Jens Baas, CEO of TK in a recent release of the cash register.
The black-red federal government has been campaigning for a long time for the expansion of telemedicine. At the beginning of the year, the chairperson of the conference of health ministers, Sabine Bätzing-Lichtenthäler (SPD), announced that telemedicine was useful as a measure against the shortage of doctors in rural areas. (ad, nr)