Video sick leave is allowed
Christine Albert studied German linguistics and literature as well as Scandinavian studies at the Albert Ludwigs University in Freiburg. She is currently doing a traineeship at Hubert Burda Media and is writing, among other things, for
More about the experts All content is checked by medical journalists.Healthcare digital: In the future, patients will be able to save themselves a lot of going to a practice, for example if they have to spare themselves because of an illness. This was decided by the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA). The corona crisis could give video consultation hours an additional boost. Read here when and for how long it is possible to take sick leave by video.
What are the requirements?
The prerequisite for the sick leave via video is that the insured person is known in the treating doctor's practice and that the illness allows an examination via video consultation. This was decided by the Federal Joint Committee of top representatives from doctors, health insurance companies and hospitals, as the committee announced on Thursday in Berlin.
However, the insured person is not entitled to a video consultation hour. The new option was created independently of the corona pandemic, as the committee emphasized.
Seven calendar days period
The initial determination of incapacity for work by video is limited to a period of seven calendar days. A follow-up illness in this way may only be given if the previous incapacity for work was determined through an immediate personal examination. No one is allowed to take sick leave exclusively via online questionnaires, chat surveys or telephone calls.
"Direct personal examination by a doctor continues to be the standard for determining incapacity for work," said Monika Lelgemann from the Federal Committee. "In individual cases, however, it should be possible to determine the incapacity for work via a video consultation, regardless of pandemic events."
In addition, from January 1, 2021, the certificate of incapacity for work will be digitized and electronically transmitted to the health insurance company.
Acceptance of video consultation hours
Regardless of the current relief, the acceptance of video consultation hours increased in the corona crisis. According to a survey published in July by the digital association Bitkom, 45 percent of German citizens can now imagine getting in touch with a doctor. In May it was 39 percent, in May of last year it was only 30 percent. In fact, 13 percent have already used a video consultation hour - in May it was 8 percent, a year ago 5 percent.
According to the survey, 97 percent of patients took video consultations with a doctor they already knew - the rest turned to unknown doctors via online platforms. For reasons of infection protection, video conferences and meetings have been part of everyday life for more people in various areas of life since the beginning of the corona crisis.
Open to apps
Many German citizens are therefore also open to health apps, which will soon be available under certain conditions at health insurance costs: 59 percent can imagine using them "in any case" or "rather". According to a law by Health Minister Jens Spahn (CDU), certain apps can be prescribed by doctors - for example, applications that help with regular medication or digital diaries for diabetics.
Patient record causes criticism
Electronic patient files are a central project in the digitization of the healthcare system. They should start as a voluntary offer on January 1, 2021. Criticism was caused by the fact that refined data protection settings are not possible from the start. Only from January 1, 2022 is it planned to specify which doctor can see it for each document individually (houseofgoldhealthproducts.de reported). (approx / dpa)
