Neighbouring country Netherlands is introducing a model called „praktijkondersteuner huisarts“ in the care of chronically ill patients . This involves the use of specially trained medical assistant practitioners (MFA) to take over time-consuming and delegated activities, including information and consultation, the creation of prevention and risk profiles or controlling the diagnostic parameter. In addition to improved quality of patient care, doctors are hoping for revenue growth of their practice with the resulting efficiencies.
[/box]Commentary: Certainly, this model is transferable to Germany. Here medical assistants are trained to the care general practice standards(VERAH), and increasing the amount of tasks that they do in order to relieve the doctor directly. In Germany, more than 3,500 (as of June 2012) medical assistants have become trained to VERAH. The only frequent criticism by practitioners is that stoma or wound management still has a parallel structure, which relies on commissions. Here, the primary concern of GPs is that primary care tasks remain in practice.[/box]
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