Baden-Württemberg: On-call practices closed in Oberndorf and Wolfach!

Baden-Württemberg: On-call practices closed in Oberndorf and Wolfach!

The Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians in Baden-Württemberg (KV BW) recently presented a new concept for the on-call medical service in the state that brings far-reaching changes. A central element of this plan is to close the standby practices in Oberndorf and Wolfach. This is done in the course of a comprehensive restructuring that is scheduled to begin in April 2025. The KV BW plans to optimize the supply structure through the expansion of a total of 57 general and 32 specialist medical practices. The aim of these measures is to ensure high -quality medical care, especially outside of regular office hours.

"The on -call duty is there for acute, non -life -threatening medical problems that cannot wait until the practices are reopened," said Dr. Doris Reinhardt, deputy chairman of the KVBW. Statistically speaking, every person uses on -call duty every five to six years. However, it is important to emphasize that the on -call service is not responsible for emergencies. Doctors: Inside, it is encouraged to alert the emergency services in the event of serious health problems.

accessibility and new location strategies

The KV BW emphasizes that the choice of location for the new practices is primarily focused on the accessibility of the patients. In the future, each city and every district should provide at least one standby practice. The citizens: inside must be able to reach these practices by car within 30 minutes. "We have taken into account the accessibility in order to guarantee a nationwide and high -quality supply," said Reinhardt. When the practice in Oberndorf is closed, the patients would have to travel to Rottweil in the future, but this is still within the available accessibility.

In addition, the KV BW plans to enlarge existing locations and to have more doctors on duty at the same time, especially at times when a higher patient volume is expected. "With these measures, we can significantly increase the quality of the on -call service," continued Reinhardt. If someone needs a special expertise, such as pediatrics or ENT, the patients have to dodge in Villingen-Schwenningen.

The need for reforms in on -call service explains Dr. Karsten Braun, the CEO of the KVBW, with an impending shortage of skilled workers. Currently there are over 1125 doctor's seats, including mainly family doctor's practices, vacant across the country, which is a real challenge for future medical care. Braun warned that a stable standard supply is now of the greatest importance to prevent future bottlenecks, especially in rural areas.

Integration of telemedicine and patient navigation systems

A crucial step towards modern patient care is the increased implementation of telemedicine. In the previous year, KVBW successfully expanded its telemedical advice. "Many concerns in the on -call service can be clarified by telemedical. We see this as an integral part of the future supply structure," said Reinhardt. The newly established patient navigation system at www.11617.de will help to lead patients to the correct care facilities and to relieve the emergency room.

In addition, the phone number 116117 will take on a central control function to ensure that the patient: inside is given the right medical treatment. A medical initial assessment procedure is already being carried out to determine the urgency of the symptoms. "The patients should use this procedure before they visit a standby practice," said KVBw.

The changes and reforms in the on -call service will be gradually implemented from April 2025, whereby the previous structures will initially remain in order to give everyone involved a certain planning security. If there is a need for action in the further development, the KV BW will react early to ensure health care according to the new standards. Dr. Braun sums it up: "We are required to take responsibility now to be prepared for the next few years."