What is telemedicine?
Telemedicine refers to the provision of medical services over spatial distance using digital communication technologies. Instead of appearing personally in a doctor's office, consultation takes place via video, chat or structured questionnaire.
In Germany, telemedicine has gained enormous importance since the loosening of the long-distance treatment ban in 2018 and has been strengthened by digitalization in healthcare. In the meantime, millions of Germans regularly use telemedical offers for a variety of concerns.
The term includes various forms: from the pure teleconsultation between the patient and the doctor, through teleradiology to teletherapy. Especially relevant for patients is the direct doctor-patient communication, which in many cases can replace a classic practice visit.
Advantages of telemedicine for patients
The advantages of telemedical treatments are manifold and concern both accessibility and quality of care:
Time saving and flexibility: No directions, no waiting times in the waiting room. Consultation may take place from home, from work or on the move. This advantage is not to be underestimated, especially for working people or parents with small children.
Discretion: Telemedicine offers a low inhibition threshold, particularly in sensitive health issues such as erectile disorders, sexual diseases or mental illnesses. Patients do not have to show themselves in the waiting room and can talk about their complaints in a familiar environment.
Access to subsidised regions: In rural areas with a lack of doctors, telemedicine can close an important supply gap. Patients receive access to specialist doctors who may not be available on site.
Quick availability: For many providers, medical assessment is possible within a few hours. Especially in the case of uncomplicated concerns such as follow-up recipes or known complaints, this is a considerable time gain compared to the appointment of doctors who have been established.
When is telemedicine suitable?
Telemedicine is not the right way for every situation. It is particularly suitable for:
Follow-up recipes and repetition regulations: If a drug is already known and is taken regularly, the prescription can often take place telemedicine. These include drugs for high blood pressure, antibabypillae or thyroid preparations.
Clearly delimitable complaints: Cold symptoms, urinary tract infections, skin problems or allergy complaints can often be considered well by telemedicine. The prerequisite is that no physical examination is absolutely necessary.
Mental health: Consultation talks, therapy sessions and psychiatric consultations are well suited for telemedicine, as the focus is on the discussion.
Telemedicine is not suitable for: Acute emergencies (breast pain, lack of breath, severe bleeding), complaints that require physical examination, complex first diagnosis and surgical procedures. In these cases, personal doctor contact or emergency reception is always the right way.
Legal framework in Germany
The legal foundations of telemedicine in Germany have developed significantly in recent years:
Remote treatment: Since the change in the pattern order for doctors in 2018, exclusive remote treatment is permitted under certain conditions. The attending physician must be able to get a sufficient picture of the patient's health condition.
Recipe exhibition: Doctors may issue prescriptions even after a telemedical consultation, provided that medical care is maintained. This explicitly includes prescription drugs.
Data protection: Telemedical providers are subject to the strict requirements of the GDPR and the Patient Data Protection Act. Communication must be end-to-end encrypted, and health data is treated as a particularly protective value.
Quality assurance: The treating doctors must be approved in Germany and are subject to the same professional duties as in classical treatment. Careful anamnese and the patient's education are also mandatory in remote treatment.
How an online treatment works on your recipe
The process of telemedical treatment via an online platform like your recipe is deliberately simple and structured:
1. Select treatment: You choose the appropriate disease picture from the offer. Prices and services are transparent before you decide.
Two. Medical questionnaire: A structured questionnaire collects your complaints, pre-disorders, current medication and other relevant information. The more complete and honest your details are, the better the doctor can assess if the treatment is suitable for you.
3. Medical examination: A doctor approving in Germany carefully checks your details. You will be contacted in case of queries. Only if the treatment is medically acceptable is a prescription issued.
4. Recipe and supply: With a positive decision, you will receive your recipe and depending on the treatment a discreet supply via a partner apotheke with shipping directly to you home.
The entire process is designed to connect medical security with maximum accessibility. In case of uncertainties or if telemedicine is not the right way, a personal visit to the doctor is recommended.
