Thanks to digital health tools such as telemedicine platforms and other information technologies, Germany faces the crisis to continue patient care remotely.
Actions for the implementation of new Digital Health solutions in this country began more than a year ago with the creation of a new legal framework and a health ecosystem suitable for its full exercise.
Last year, an expert group was established by the Ministry of Health, that has the priority of accelerating the digitization of services. The director of the Health Innovation Hub, Jörg Debatin, leads this group of 11 experts.
Among the tools in response to the COVID-19 Health Innovation Hub pandemic, it has released a mostly free telemedicine service list, which could be integrated into medical practice without the need for technical knowledge or investing in equipment.
One of the innovations is Corona-Bot, an app created by DOCYET a German star-up, that helps patients to know and classify their symptoms to clarify a possible SARS-CoV-2 infection. The app is updated daily following the latest scientific publications and official data provided by the government.
Debatin explained that before the health emergency only a few doctors were interested in new solutions of telemedicine or teleconsulting, therefore in the last few days the number has increased. He also acknowledges the importance of digital platform that ease the doctor-patient interaction, especially in moments like this.
He also explained that remote consultations work not only for family doctors, but also for specialists such as psychotherapists and psychologists. In the COVID-19 situation this can represent even the only option for health professionals to maintain contact with their patients.
Another advantage of the new Digital Health system is that in times of emergency as we currently live, they function as a perfect communication channel for the spread of reliable and official information for patients and the rest of the population.
The picture despite the crisis is encouraging, because two years ago teleconsultations were not legal in Germany, that is why the aim of the initial project was to lift legal framework restrictions. With clear regulations, healthcare professionals will be able to access these types of digital solutions more easily in the future.
