Telephone & digital: medical on-call service increased for public holidays
During the holidays, patients with acute complaints can contact the medical on-call service. 112 should only be called in an emergency.
(Image: KBV)
During the holidays, patients can contact the medical on-call service for acute complaints such as flu, infections, abdominal pain and more by calling the 116117 hotline. This is usually available around the clock, but should only be used if patients can no longer wait for regular consultation hours. Medically trained staff are available on the telephone at the advice centers of the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KBV), and some associations of statutory health insurance physicians (KVs), such as those in Lower Saxony and Westphalia-Lippe, are increasing the number of staff for the holidays.
(Image:Â KBV)
Alternatively, the website www.116117.de is also available. The patient navigator set up there can be used around the clock to obtain an assessment of symptoms and information about open medical practices, free appointments between public holidays or similar. The "SmED" ("Structured Initial Medical Assessment in Germany") software provides support and determines a recommendation on the urgency of treatment and the correct place of treatment. A large number of questions must first be answered. For Baden-WĂĽrttemberg, a virtual map from the KVBW also shows which practices are on call. It is not always necessary to call 112 directly.
112 in an emergency
However, in the case of serious accidents, the rescue coordination center should be called directly at 112. The KVB and KBV describe the digital networking of the emergency number with 116 117 as a success, with emergencies being forwarded directly to the emergency services via an interface. The KBV sees the further expansion of the on-call service with the video telephony solution 'DocOnLine' as a further success.
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In addition to 112, the Federal Ministry of Health is planning another number for emergency situations – as part of the national suicide prevention strategy. According to the planned law to strengthen national suicide prevention, 113 is to be established as a Germany-wide crisis service emergency number and will be available around the clock. The number is intended for "people with suicidal thoughts, people who want to die, people in crisis situations, relatives, loved ones" and others. These should then be forwarded to regional crisis services or the emergency services.
Note: In Germany, you can find help and support for all kinds of problems, including questions about bullying and suicides, at telefonseelsorge.de and by calling 0800 1110111. The number against grief (children's and youth helpline) is 116 111. In Austria, there are also free help services, including the children's helpline on 0800 567 567 and Rat auf Draht on 147, especially for children. The same telephone number in Switzerland leads to Pro Juventute.
(mack)
