Abstract
Telemedicine has been in practical use for many years, mostly within the context of model projects. The current Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated the process of implementing telemedicine in standard care. Numerous regulations, as well as complex reimbursement structures play a role in the application of telemedicine in medical genetics in Germany. Discipline- and technology-specific challenges complicate the integration of technical solutions into the medical genetic practice. In previous studies teleconsultations and virtual consultations in medical genetics have proven their value as indicated by high levels of satisfaction in the users and showing no inferiority to in-person consultation in terms of psychosocial outcome. The next years will bring an increasing demand for genetic counseling that can hardly be met by the limited number of specialists in Germany. In this context telemedicine can help to close these gaps in standard care while strengthening the field by ensuring comprehensive medical genetic care. The German medical genetics community is asked to actively shape the process of implementation by defining areas of genetic counseling that are suitable for telemedicine, by regulating access for physicians and by contributing to the renumeration structures.
Highlights
As early as 2005 the World Health Organization has urged its member states to “draw up a long-term strategic plan for developing and implementing eHealth services in the various areas of the health sector” stating that “eHealth is the cost-effective and secure use of information and communications technologies in support of health and healthrelated fields” [1]
In previous studies teleconsultations and virtual consultations in medical genetics have proven their value as indicated by high levels of satisfaction in the users and showing no inferiority to in-person consultation in terms of psychosocial outcome
In this context telemedicine can help to close these gaps in standard care while strengthening the field by ensuring comprehensive medical genetic care
Summary
As early as 2005 the World Health Organization has urged its member states to “draw up a long-term strategic plan for developing and implementing eHealth services in the various areas of the health sector” stating that “eHealth is the cost-effective and secure use of information and communications technologies in support of health and healthrelated fields” [1]. Telemedicine as part of eHealth is the use of information and communication technologies for various medical care concepts in which medical services. The German Federal Ministry of Health, has identified digitization as a central prerequisite for the successful advancement of our healthcare system and is pushing ahead with the implementation of telemedicine in standard care as part of its eHealth initiative. We are witnessing an accelerated and irreversible change in the field of telemedicine, where no longer doctors or legislators alone act as stakeholders. This makes it even more important for medical associations and medical societies to actively participate in this process
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