Indikatorensatz für die Gesundheitsberichterstattung der Länder. Dritte, neu bearbeitete Fassung. Band 1

Arbeitsgemeinschaft der obersten Landesgesundheitsbehörden AOLG. Indikatorensatz für die Gesundheitsberichterstattung der Länder. Dritte, neu bearbeitete Fassung. Band 1. lögd, Bielefeld: Ministerium für Gesundheit, Soziales, Frauen und Familie des Landes Nordrhein-Westfalen; 2003

Indikatorensatz für die Gesundheitsberichterstattung der Länder. Dritte, neue bearbeitete Fassung. Band 2

Arbeitsgemeinschaft der obersten Landesgesundheitsbehörden AOLG. Indikatorensatz für die Gesundheitsberichterstattung der Länder. Dritte, neue bearbeitete Fassung. Band 2. lögd, Bielefeld: Ministerium für Gesundheit, Soziales, Frauen und Familie des Landes Nordrhein-Westfalen; 2003

Is telemonitoring an option against shortage of physicians in rural regions? attitude towards telemedical devices in the North Rhine-Westphalian health survey, Germany

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>General practitioners (GP) in rural areas of Germany are struggling to find successors for their private practices. Telemonitoring at home offers an option to support remaining GPs and specialists in ambulatory care.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We assessed the knowledge and attitude towards telemedicine in the population of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), Germany, in a population-based telephone survey.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Out of 2,006 participants, 734 (36.6%) reported an awareness of telemedical devices. Only 37 participants (1.8%) have experience in using them. The majority of participants were in favour of using them in case of illness (72.2%). However, this approval declined with age. These findings were similar in rural and urban areas. Participants who were in favour of telemedicine (n = 1,480) strongly agreed that they would have to see their doctor less often, and that the doctor would recognize earlier relevant changes in their vital status. Participants who disliked to be monitored by telemedical devices preferred to receive immediate feedback from their physician. Especially, the elderly fear the loss of personal contact with their physician. They need the direct patient-physician communication.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The fear of being left alone with the technique needs to be compensated for today's elderly patients to enhance acceptance of home telemonitoring as support for remaining doctors either in the rural areas or cities.</p

Primary and secondary data on dementia care as an example of regional health planning

Health service planning that takes into account as far as possible the regional needs and regional discrepancies is a controversial health issue in Germany. In a pilot scheme, we tested a planning process for regional healthcare services, based on the example of dementia care. The aim of this article is to present the strengths and limitations of this planning process. We developed an indicator set for dementia care based on routine regional data obtained from two German statutory health insurance companies. Additionally, primary data based on a questionnaire sent to all GPs in the area were evaluated. These data were expanded through the addition of official socio-demographic population data. Procedures and evaluation strategies, discussion of the results and the derivation of planning measures followed, in close agreement with a group of local experts. Few epidemiological data on regional variations in health care planning are publicly available. Secondary data from statutory health insurance companies can be assessed to support the estimation of regional health care needs, but interpretation is difficult. The use of surveys to collect primary data, and the assessment of results by the local health board may facilitate interpretation and may contribute towards more valid statements regarding regional health planning. Despite the limited availability of data and the considerable efforts involved in data analysis, the project demonstrates how needs-based health service planning can be carried out in a small region, taking into account the increasing demands of the local health care providers and the special local features