title: [Possibilities and limitations of telemedicine in general practitioner practices].
abstract: According to the AGnES concept (general-practitioner-supporting, community-based, e-health-assisted systemic intervention), general practitioners (GPs) can delegate certain components of medical care in the context of home visits by qualified AGnES employees. Within the framework of six AGnES projects, different telemedical applications have been implemented. Telemedical monitoring of patients was implemented to analyse the feasibility and acceptance within GP practices. One hundred sixty-two patients used a telemedical monitoring system (e.g. scale/sphygmomanometer and intraocular pressure measurement system). Regarding communication in cases of acutely necessary GP consultations, telephone calls and videoconferences between the GP and the AGnES employee were analysed. Unscheduled telephone calls or videoconferences were necessary for only a few home visits; the reasons included pain, anomalous values, and medication problems. The main result of the analysis was that implementation of telemedicine in GP practices is feasible and is accepted both by patients and GPs.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Community Medicine, Abt. Versorgungsepidemiologie und Community Health, Klinikum der Ernst-Moritz-Arndt Universität Greifswald, AöR, Ellernholzstraße 1/2, 17487, Greifswald, Deutschland, neeltje.vandenberg@uni-greifswald.de.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: van den Berg
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Meinke
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D058005:General Practitioners / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014600:Utilization Review; D055815:Young Adult