Ambulatory care trends in Germany: a road toward more integration of care?
Traditionally, Germany has a weak primary care system. In addition, the number of general practitioners (GPs) has declined in the past years. Main challenges are an aging population, disintegration of care, variations in care, an increase in chronic conditions, and a shortage of GPs especially in rural areas. Policy reacted by implementing financial incentives for GPs in rural areas and special GP training programs. Improvements in chronic care aim to better integrate care through Disease Management Programs, the electronic health card, and voluntary primary care schemes. The largest challenge to be addressed is the delegation of physician tasks to physician assistants.
Institute of General Practice and Family Medicine, University Witten/Herdecke, Alfred-Herrhausen-Straße, Witten, Germany. marcus.redaelli@uni-wh.de
Marcus
M
Redaelli
Susanne
S
Meuser
Stephanie
S
Stock
D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000639:trends*; D019033:Delivery of Health Care, Integrated / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000639:trends*; D019468:Disease Management; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D017146:Models, Organizational; D011157:Population Dynamics; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000639:trends*