Smart video sessions, intelligent beds and caring robots are shaping the day-to-day care of the future.
„The limits of telemedicine are not technically but ethical,“ says Professor Eggert Beleites. Computer dogs for dementia patients and robots Assistance in operations, the visions are great, the reality often sobering. Just one percent of Germans has experience with telemedicine, according to the latest digital index of the federal government. The survey shows that 48 percent of young people, especially office workers, can basically imagine the use of digital medical products. Thus, more than 40 percent can make friends with an implant, which monitors body values and alerts the doctor if necessary. And because every fifth 65-year-old already uses Whatsapp, the implant scenario sounds like the near future.
In addition: The pressure increases. Lack of skilled workers, lack of doctors in the countryside, more and more immobile patients and overcrowded emergency rooms with family doctor clients could give innovations such as telemedicine the necessary boost. „There are fewer and fewer doctors and more and more patients“ Thomas Aßmann. The country doctor from the Bergisch Land has been an enthusiastic teledoctor since 2015. Specially trained practice assistants visit their patients at home, equipped with a backpack full of telemedicine technology.
Tele-Doc on home visit
Patients like Ingrid, who relies on home visits from the doctor, benefit from Aßmann’s pioneering spirit. The 91-year-old lives alone and can not climb stairs anymore. Regularly, their blood glucose levels need to be checked and an ECG made. For the latter, she had previously had to transport the patient to the family doctor, today the Tele-Doc arrives on her digital way. The medical assistants can take ECG data via mobile phone on-site and transfer it to the doctor in real time. If necessary, this will turn on via video telephony and gives medical advice.
Erik Boos shares the enthusiasm for telemedicine, which could counteract the country doctor shortage. The manager of Snapview is an old hand when it comes to video communication. His company has 15 years experience in online sessions. Now he offers his certified software, which is established in the banking and insurance market, to doctors, hospitals and publishers. „We expect in medicine with similar processes as in the financial world,“ says Boos. There, banks have sometimes switched up to 100 percent to online consultations. For one thing, because customers want that. On the other hand, camera-based conversations are more effective, faster and ultimately more lucrative for the credit companies. But of such a ratio, the medicine is currently still far away.
