instead of an in-person home visit, the medical professional will conduct a consultation via a video link
Lower Saxony Reforms Medical On-Call Service, Emphasizes Telemedicine
Starting July 1, Lower Saxony will implement a significant change in its medical on-call service, with a focus on weekend and holiday home visits outside regular hours. This shift aims to enhance the process for home visits by doctors or appropriately trained non-medical staff, and to replace home visits with video or telephone consultations, but home visits will still be ensured in necessary cases.
The telephone number 116117 is nationwide for insured patients to reach the medical on-call service. An artificial intelligence will assist in initial illness assessment, and patients will continue to contact the service via this number. If a patient cannot come to the practice during on-call hours, a telemedical doctor contact will be initiated instead of an automatic home visit.
Patients will receive an SMS with a link for video consultation within 30 minutes of calling 116117. If no smartphone is available, the contact will be via landline. The doctor will call back within the next 30 minutes for telephone consultation.
It is crucial to note that the number 116117 is not for contacting dental emergency services. Dental appointments cannot be made or corresponding emergency services reached via the number 116117. The number is not intended for life-threatening cases; 112 should be called in such situations.
Dr. Ralf Klask, a local doctor and spokesperson for the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians, supports the reform due to the outdated structure and doctor shortage in rural areas. The reform also allows doctors to issue electronic prescriptions.
However, the search results do not provide information about which organization will be responsible for organizing the telemedicine services for medical emergency call consultations and video/telephone consultations in Lower Saxony as part of the reform of medical emergency services from July 1, 2023.
In summary, the reform in Lower Saxony's medical on-call service aims to improve the process for home visits, emphasize telemedicine, and ensure that patients receive timely and efficient care. The number 116117 remains the number to call for non-emergency medical needs, but it is not intended for dental emergencies or life-threatening situations.
