Reimagined House Calls – What Comes Next?

VaO tackles the challenge of improving medical care in underserved regions. In 2023, the first care facility of the project was established in the municipality of Stockheim. This location recently hosted a roundtable discussion among project partners. The primary focus was on promising evaluation results and an in-depth exploration of options for ensuring the long-term sustainability of this innovative approach to healthcare delivery. Approximately 20 participants from academia, politics, healthcare practice, and the public agreed on the necessity of this endeavour.

In his opening remarks, Martin Link, First Chairman of the Streutalallianz e. V. and Mayor of Stockheim, emphasized the central role of healthcare in rural regions. Werner Palancares from HeimatUnternehmen e. V. echoed this sentiment, tracing the project's journey from its inception through the search for project partners to its current progress: “A lot of passion and effort for a minimally invasive intervention in the system that significantly alleviates its pain.”

The concept involves delegating house calls by general practitioners to their assistants, who visit patients in dedicated VaO facilities within walking distance of their homes, provided the patients meet certain medical criteria. This consolidation reduces travel distances by 8% and working hours by over 20%. Dr. Reiner Hofmann, the project leader at the Medical Campus of Upper Franconia at the University of Bayreuth, explained the structure and interim results of the scientific evaluation: “This minimal adjustment leads to significant savings in non-patient-facing work hours without altering the quality of care. The trusted combination of doctor, assistant, and patient remains unchanged.”

During the roundtable, experts from various fields discussed integrating this new care model into standard healthcare services. AOK Bayern, committed to ensuring high-quality, locally accessible healthcare across Bavaria, supports VaO. Frank Dünisch, Director of AOK Bayern in Schweinfurt, remarked: “The project offers a promising approach to improving general practitioner care in rural regions, such as Rhön-Grabfeld, while addressing the challenges of a demographic shift that exacerbates the shortage of GPs. However, integrating the project into regular local healthcare provision and reaching more patients will require appropriate legal frameworks.”

Franziska Beckebans, Head of Customer Management and Care at SBK Siemens Company Health Insurance Fund, added: “SBK has supported VaO from the outset, as we see it as a promising solution to enhance general practitioner care for insured individuals in underserved areas. The next step is to find solutions for funding the project after its pilot phase. It is crucial that all insured individuals benefit from this offering, regardless of their health insurance provider. Additionally, we need a system-based solution to ensure sustainable financing. SBK would fully support such an approach!”

Thomas Fischer, Mayor of Nordheim and member of Streutalallianz e. V., highlighted the importance of regional political engagement: “Although our region still has good general practitioner care, practices are already under immense strain. Many GPs are struggling to manage the patient load. As local leaders, we must actively support projects like VaO and work together to create sustainable structures for the future.”

Sabine Dittmar, Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Health, also stressed the necessity of high-quality, locally accessible healthcare during the discussion. She expressed openness to expanding the range of services, citing the strong qualifications of medical and allied health professionals: “I’m pleased that the initiative is well-received and that patients appear satisfied. I will continue to support this project within my capacity.”

The event concluded with a promising outlook: several concrete strategies were discussed for integrating VaO, funded by the Bavarian State Ministry for Health, Care, and Prevention, into a regular, insurance-covered healthcare offering. Key project partners, including GP Ute Schloe and medical assistant Simone Günther, emphasized their hope for this outcome. Simone Günther commented: “VaO is forward-looking and scalable. Patients feel well-cared for, gain independence, and relieve their families of transport duties. This also reduces the workload for practices and lowers the frequency of emergency treatments. As a VERAH (Care Assistant in General Practice), I hope the project continues and transitions into standard care, especially in underserved rural areas, where well-trained VERAHs can ensure high-quality support.”

Dr. Ute Schloe agreed: “VaO has proven to be an invaluable support for our practice. Regular patient care in VaO facilities not only eases the burden on our medical team but also enhances care quality. The initiative meets patient needs and preferences while optimizing overall care.”

The sentiment was echoed by a relative of one of Günther’s patients, who shared: “Since my mother started going to the VaO facility, she looks forward to every Thursday. She’s thrilled to regain some independence, as she can visit on her own. It’s a fantastic project that must continue.”