Telehealth for physicians remains a specialized area in medical practice. - Specialty video-based medical consultations seeing greater demand among select clientele
Telemedicine Gains Modest Growth in Thuringia Amidst Persistent Challenges
Telemedicine, particularly video consultations, has seen a gradual increase in Thuringia, despite remaining a niche service in the region. This trend can be attributed to several factors, including demographic and geographic challenges, healthcare provider preferences, and regulatory constraints.
In 2024, the number of video consultations rose by 7,000 compared to the previous year, reaching 2.7 million. However, this figure still represents a small fraction of the over 16 million annual outpatient treatments. In the fourth quarter of 2024, only a minority of 73 general practitioners in Thuringia conducted video consultations, with smaller specialist groups like dermatologists, surgeons, and pediatricians also participating.
The Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KV) in Thuringia considers video consultations as an additional service, recognising their potential benefits. Despite the increase, the preference of patients for visiting the doctor's office was not explicitly stated, but it is known that most patients still maintain this preference.
One of the key factors hindering wider adoption of telemedicine is the older population in Thuringia, who may be less familiar or comfortable with digital health technologies. Additionally, limited broadband infrastructure in rural areas can also constrain widespread video consultation use.
Many physicians and specialists in Thuringia might prefer in-person consultations due to traditional workflows, perceived quality of care, or reimbursement policies that disincentivize digital consultations. Even though COVID-19 temporarily boosted telemedicine acceptance, many patients may still prefer face-to-face interaction for complex or sensitive medical issues, limiting consistent demand.
The lack of seamless integration of video consultation platforms with existing healthcare IT systems and concerns about data privacy may contribute to hesitancy among providers and patients. Moreover, specific regulations and administrative burdens could slow broader adoption in certain federal states, affecting the business scale.
Despite these challenges, the deputy chairman of the KV, Thomas Schröder, emphasised that the gold standard for patients remains the personal doctor-patient contact. In 2024, the number of video consultations conducted by psychotherapists was nearly 2,300, with around half of the approximately 500 Thuringian psychotherapists conducting these consultations.
As Thuringia continues to navigate the integration of telemedicine into its healthcare system, it is clear that addressing these structural and cultural factors will be crucial for wider adoption and improved patient access to digital healthcare services.
- The Thuringian government could consider implementing a community policy that provides vocational training to health professionals, focusing on digital health technologies, to increase the adoption rate of telemedicine among providers.
- Integrating telemedicine services into existing health-and-wellness programs, such as those offering health screenings or wellness coaching, could also help improve public acceptance, encouraging the use of digital platforms for various health-related needs.
