In a press release, the German Federal Guild of Orthopaedic Technology Associations clarifies that all medical supply stores and orthopaedic technology companies will continue to be open for the close-to-home and quality-assured supply of patient aids, because a nationwide guideline of the Federal Government in cooperation with the individual federal states has guaranteed the basic supply of the population in times of the COVID 19 pandemic since 16 March 2020. The guideline states that certain shops may remain open, including medical supply stores and orthopaedic workshops. As service providers, 4,500 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) provide 30 million patient care services a year. The aids provided by these houses include not only respiratory equipment and other respiratory aids for domestic use, but also many other products, such as wound care, but also aids for pre- and especially post-operative care, as hospitals are currently focusing on the care of people infected with coronavirus. The medical staff of these hospitals are working closely with clinics and, in the current exceptional situation and under difficult conditions, are thus ensuring discharge management of the clinics, as envisaged by the Robert Koch Institute in its pandemic plan. The associations of aid providers, which include the Federal Guild Association for Orthopaedic Technology, Egroh eG, Nowecor, Reha-Service-Ring, rehaVital Gesundheitsservice GmbH, Verband Versorgungsqualität Homecare e.V., Sanitätshaus Aktuell AG and the Zentralverband Orthopädieschuhtechnik (Central Association for Orthopaedic Shoe Technology), have set up a COVID-19 task force for this purpose. It is the representation of all service providers throughout Germany so that the care of patients in times of the corona crisis outside the hospitals and clinics is close to their homes and secured with a promise of quality.
