The Digital Healthcare Act – a Turning Point in the German Digitisation Strategy?

Florian Dittrich; Urs-Vito Albrecht; Ute von Jan; Christin Malinka; Jörg Ansorg; Jochen Jung; David Alexander Back; AG Digitalisierung

doi:10.1055/a-1141-4274

Zeitschrift für Orthopädie und Unfallchirurgie, Table of Contents

Z Orthop Unfall 2021; 159(03): 259-265
DOI: 10.1055/a-1141-4274

Original Article/Originalarbeit

The Digital Healthcare Act – a Turning Point in the German Digitisation Strategy?

Results of a Survey in Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery Article in several languages: English | deutsch

Authors

Florian Dittrich

¹Klinik für Orthopädie und Orthopädische Chirurgie, Universitätsklinikum des Saarlandes und Medizinische Fakultät der Universität des Saarlandes, Homburg

²Gelenkzentrum Bergisch Land, Fabricius Klinik Remscheid
Urs-Vito Albrecht

³Peter L. Reichertz Institute for Medical Informatics, TU Brunswick and Medical College Hannover
Ute von Jan

³Peter L. Reichertz Institute for Medical Informatics, TU Brunswick and Medical College Hannover
Christin Malinka

³Peter L. Reichertz Institute for Medical Informatics, TU Brunswick and Medical College Hannover
Jörg Ansorg

⁴Director, Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery Professional Association e. V., Berlin
Jochen Jung

⁵Department of Orthopaedics, Diakonie Hospital Bad Kreuznach

AG Digitalisierung

David Alexander Back

⁷Department of Trauma Surgery and Orthopaedics, Septic and Reconstructive Surgery, Bundeswehr Hospital Berlin

Abstract

The recently ratified Digital Healthcare Act – DVG – has paved the way, among other issues, for the prescription of health apps. The German DVG creates an entitlement to health apps for the very first time. However, this entitlement is initially limited to low-risk medical devices that have been included in the publicly accessible Register for Digital Health Applications by the German Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices. Listing in the register is granted, if the manufacturer has submitted a health app and verified that it meets basic requirements for medical devices and data security as well as positive health care effects. It is questionable, whether the DVG will lead to sustainable improvements in future patient care. In order to pursue this question and align the DGOUCʼs digitization strategy closely with its basis, an online survey was conducted among the respective members on the DVGʼs content and its associated opportunities and risks. A total of 461 German-speaking, predominantly male, experienced and elderly physicians in leading positions took part in the survey. In this study, it was shown that the majority of the participating German orthopaedic and trauma surgeons is not familiar with the DVGʼs contents. Despite a fundamentally positive attitude towards digitization, scepticism about the use of “apps on prescription” and potential risks still prevails at present. The closing of ranks between medicine, IT and the legislature via interdisciplinary expert groups and the involvement of medical societies might be obligatory.

Key words

mHealth - DVG - health apps - online survey - smartphone

Full Text

References

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