Online skin check: TK offers digital advice from dermatologists
09.11.2020 12:35
As the first statutory health insurance company in Germany, the Techniker Krankenkasse (TK) is now offering its insured persons specialist online advice for skin problems. To this end, TK says it has concluded a contract with the Internet platform OnlineDoctor, which works closely with the Federal Association of German Dermatologists (BVDD).
The insured persons describe their complaints in a structured questionnaire and upload photos of the affected skin areas. Within 48 hours, a dermatologist will assess the symptoms and recommend therapy to the insured person. You can choose a doctor you trust or from your region from currently 150 dermatologists.
The TK board chairman Dr. Jens Baas says: “With the online skin check, our insured people receive comfortable, high-quality and safe treatment without long journeys and waiting times using modern technology. Participants can describe their problems at any time, regardless of opening times.” After 48 hours at the latest, they will receive a link by email and an activation code by SMS. This allows them to download the doctor's recommendation from the portal secured by two-factor authentication.
Baas: “This is a highly attractive and innovative solution, especially for mobile people with a lot of hectic day-to-day work, but also with a view to infection protection in Corona times.”
Evaluating smartphone images is nothing unusual for dermatologists
The President of the BVDD, Dr. Klaus Strömer, explains: “Assessing smartphone images has long been nothing unusual for dermatologists. The large number of colleagues participating on the OnlineDoctor platform shows that there is not only a need, but also a willingness on the part of doctors to use a secure tool. The BVDD is pleased that this option is now available to those insured by a large statutory health insurance company for the first time.”
Cooperation makes the platform more attractive for patients and doctors
The Germany managing director of the platform provider OnlineDoctor, Leonie Sommer, says: “Since our launch in Germany in autumn 2019, we have only offered our online advice to self-payers. Our own data evaluations from Switzerland and Germany have shown that we can finally help 85 percent of patients remotely.” According to Sommer, over 20,000 patients have so far used OnlineDoctor’s services and paid out of their own pocket. “I am pleased that we were able to convince TK with its 10.7 million insured people. For us, this is a great success and a breakthrough for our business model.”