Archive:
Birgit Fischer, stellvertretende Vorstandsvorsitzende der BARMER, im MVF-Titelinterview
01.10.2009
Kommentar von Dr. Falk Hoffmann, MPH und Prof. Dr. Gerd Glaeske
01.10.2009
How does Ms. W. from Düsseldorf choose the clinic if she needs a new hip joint? Until recently there was only one answer to this question. She was referred by her local orthopedic surgeon and may have relied on information she knew from hearsay. The question of what information the treating doctor relied on remained open. How can you assess the quality of a clinic? How can Ms. W. get information other than asking relatives, friends and acquaintances? Occasionally there are special issues of relevant magazines that publish ranking lists of the supposedly “best hospitals in Germany”. However, the methods underlying these lists are usually incomprehensible and who knows which is the best hospital for Ms. W. given her personal experiences and preferences?
01.10.2009
According to estimates from individual doctors, the vaccination status of around 40 percent of patients does not correspond to the current recommendations of the Standing Vaccination Commission. However, reliable data on the vaccination protection of outpatient primary care patients is sparse. Methods: In this study, standardized vaccination-related data were collected from patients from 118 primary care practices. Results: The results of the survey (n=557) suggest that vaccination gaps exist among older general practitioner patients and that factors influencing vaccination rates in the general practitioner sector in Germany have both patient and, in some cases, practice-specific characteristics. Conclusion: Relevant data on vaccination protection could be collected using a representative cross-sectional survey. As part of applied family medicine research, the present study contributes to improving the data situation on vaccinations in older adults.
01.10.2009
Patient coaching as an innovative service in healthcare serves the purpose of promoting therapy adherence (compliance, adherence), active participation and self-management of patients in overcoming their illness, taking into account individual preferences. In this episode, examples are given of the efficiency reserves that can be expected from patient coaching compared to the effects of drug discount agreements, and that some health insurance companies have integrated patient coaching programs into their care management as pilot projects. A classification matrix is presented for more transparency of coaching programs. In addition, numerous open questions are addressed, which could be answered by appropriate health services research.
01.10.2009
Demographic change with an increase in the number of very old people, increasing public knowledge about dementia and increasing expectations of medical interventions from relatives and those affected will increase the demand for options for early diagnosis and therapy for memory impairments in old age. While currently a documented diagnosis only occurs in the 3rd year of dementia due to stigmatization, in the future an earlier diagnosis will probably occur in the 1st and 2nd year of the disease. In contrast to extensive further developments in the field of diagnostics, the therapeutic options are still limited. The increasing norm of living alone will often jeopardize the goal often expressed by older people of being able to provide care in their own home when dementia occurs in the future.
01.10.2009
More than 700,000 people already live in nursing homes; The use of inpatient care continues to increase. The few surveys about medical care in inpatient care facilities show a consistent picture. Due to the limited mobility of the residents, specialist medical care is very unsatisfactory; As a result, there are deficits in diagnostics and therapy. This is particularly true for people with dementia. In nursing homes, the rate of people suffering from dementia is around 65 %. Nevertheless, only a minority receive neurological/psychiatric care. The supply of anti-dementia drugs is inadequate. The low level of medical performance has several causes and does not correspond to society's aging image; It is also questionable from a health economic point of view. Several surveys and studies show, for example, the reduced care and nursing costs with simultaneous therapy with anti-dementia drugs (“Memantine”).
01.10.2009
The Bavarian Minister of Health, Dr. Markus Söder, in an interview with the cover of MVF magazine.