“VERAH am Ort” supply project starts
23.05.2023 13:20
The shortage of doctors is one of the major challenges for medical care: In an aging society, more people are sick. At the same time, doctors are also getting older and older. Accordingly, many practices are closing. In some regions, particularly rural ones, this development already means that many people can no longer find a family doctor's practice nearby. The “VERAH am Ort” care project can offer a solution for the affected regions (VERAH stands for care assistant in the family doctor’s practice).
The first pilot practices are now launching in the Rhön-Grabfeld district of Lower Franconia. The SBK Siemens company health insurance fund has supported the implementation of the project.
VERAH am Ort: local contact point for uncomplicated medical assistance
The idea is simple: The care assistants are on-site at the practices at set times. Equipped with appropriate communication technology, they can consult local doctors as needed and transmit patient vital signs. The result is a win-win-win for everyone involved: Local people can find medical care within a reasonable distance. This particularly benefits those with limited mobility. The VERAH (Verah) experience an upgrade in the status of this still-new profession. And the region's general practitioners can ensure care even for those in more distant areas with a reasonable level of effort.
Franziska Beckebans, Head of Customer Management and Care at SBK, said: "VERAH am Ort is a project close to our hearts. It represents a promising solution to the shortage of primary care physicians in rural areas. The care project can mean improved care for many insured individuals. However, it is also clear that the project can only be one building block in addressing the worsening shortage of skilled medical professionals. We urgently need long-term strategies to secure the care situation for insured individuals in rural areas."
The pilot project, which is being scientifically supported by the University of Bayreuth, launched on May 22nd with an official ceremony in Stockheim. The state of Bavaria is funding the start-up phase with €0.5 million.