Telemedicine: New DRV framework concept for rehabilitation aftercare
11.03.2016 11:51
Successful rehabilitation requires aftercare. In order to improve participation in aftercare services, the pension insurance providers will provide special aftercare representatives as contact persons for rehabilitation patients. For the first time, minimum qualitative requirements have been defined by a payer for tele-aftercare.
From 2016, a new framework concept for rehabilitation aftercare from the German pension insurance will apply, which describes the basics, structure, implementation and offers of rehabilitation aftercare. A transition period of three years from 2016 is planned for its implementation. Rehabilitation aftercare is particularly important for long-term stabilization of the treatment success achieved in rehabilitation and thus also for professional reintegration.
For the individual needs of the insured, the pension insurance provides needs-oriented aftercare offers, such as the telemedical “EvoCare” treatment, which can be carried out as rehabilitation aftercare at home.
On July 8, 2013, the “EvoCare” treatment was approved as the first regular form of telemedicine treatment. “EvoCare” teletherapy was a DRV Bayern Süd research project led by Prof. Dr. med. WF Beyer, Medical Director of the Bad Füssing Orthopedic Center. The effectiveness of the aftercare concepts IRENA and “EvoCare” teletherapy in patients with diseases of the musculoskeletal system in relation to physical parameters was examined. The positive results of the evaluation led to its inclusion in standard care. DRV Bayern Süd is the first statutory pension insurance provider to introduce this type of aftercare.
Rehab before retirement – prevention before rehab
“The DRV’s new aftercare concept shows that aftercare is given more importance – we expressly welcome this. Complex rehabilitation aftercare services should also be included in the quality assurance of rehabilitation. The supply chain is thus further professionalized, which has a positive effect on the successful reintegration of those undergoing rehabilitation. Overall, rehabilitation clinics and aftercare providers are given more options and are more challenged. In the case of tele-aftercare according to “EvoCare” standards, the team that is already familiar from the rehabilitation continues to look after their patients at home. This close integration of rehabilitation and aftercare helps to reduce interface problems in health care,” says Dr.-Ing. Achim Hein, general representative of EvoCare Telemedizin ECT eG.