New health network in the Waldviertel: a model for the future

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In the Waldviertel there are great efforts to reform health care. Many doctors complain about overload, and a new approach could now help to master the numerous challenges. A pilot project, called "Health Region Waldviertel", starts to find innovative solutions for the current problems in the health sector. The problem has been known for years: there is a lack of specialists, our society is getting older and the costs are increasing - despite the high expectations of the citizens.

"We are really at a intersection," says general practitioner Monika Steinkellner, who describes the situation significantly. Resident doctors are often the last in the chain of health care, with only limited opportunities for adequate support. With the new project, which is accompanied by experts from the Donau University, a comprehensive approach is now being followed.

a new network in healthcare

"There are many players in the health system, and for solutions we have to literally turn all the adjustment screws," said State Councilor Ludwig Schleritzko (ÖVP) when presenting the project. The goal is clear: people should be treated where there is the best possible care - be it in a doctor's office, at home or in the hospital. It is planned to create a close -meshed health network that brings preventive offers and various healthcare providers. This is to relieve the clinics and improve care.

An example of the future health approach was shown using an older lady from a small community. In the future, she will no longer be sent to the hospital immediately, but first referred to the local health care center, such as a community Nurse. This person will initially record the symptoms and use a doctor for the diagnosis with the help of telemedicine. Such steps contribute to reducing the stress on the clinics.

strategically planned goals of the project

The pilot project pursues three essential goals. First of all, the cooperation between different health service providers should be intensified. Existing offers must be bundled in order to create both synergies and close gaps in care. Secondly, a supply of “most suitable place” is aimed at, which should lead to treatments only be used if they are absolutely necessary and that patients can be released home as early as possible.

A third goal is to strengthen the population's initiative. Direct health initiatives in communities are to be promoted to increase the health literacy of citizens. Projects such as the "Healthy Community" or the Community Nurses should act as the first point of contact and thus secure local health care.

The entire project is scientifically accompanied by data analyzes and innovative approaches. During the project presentation, it was emphasized that a comprehensive analysis of the current health level should create the basis for new solutions. Doris Behrens from the University of Krems emphasized that the combination of data -based analysis and practical measures can lay the foundation for an effective and future -oriented health system.

In short, the health project in the Waldviertel could be the beginning of a fundamental reform in medical care. The approaches of networking and telemedical support are intended to minimize both the hospital stays and to reduce the number of symptoms in an overloaded medical infrastructure. If everything goes well, this could not only relieve the work of the doctors, but also offer a noticeable improvement in health care for the people in the region. Further information can be found in a comprehensive report on noe.orf.at .