Implementation of Digital Health and Telemedicine Solutions

The BDIH – KTBW supports several projects in implementing digitalization concepts and telemedicine approaches in real-world healthcare and care delivery. On the one hand, it supports existing publicly funded projects in Baden-Württemberg with expertise and networks to help ensure that innovative approaches are successfully integrated into routine care beyond the end of the funding period. On the other hand, it is actively involved in the practical implementation of specific pilot projects that have emerged from previous publicly funded initiatives. 

The BDIH – KTBW supports several projects in implementing digitalization concepts and telemedicine approaches in real-world healthcare and care delivery. On the one hand, it supports existing publicly funded projects in Baden-Württemberg with expertise and networks to help ensure that innovative approaches are successfully integrated into routine care beyond the end of the funding period. On the other hand, it is actively involved in the practical implementation of specific pilot projects that have emerged from previous publicly funded initiatives. 

AMBIGOAL – Integrated Outpatient Health Centers to Optimize Medical Care and Nursing in Rural Areas

IN BRIEF

About the Project

Funding period: April 1, 2020 – March 31, 2022 

Brief description: The AMBIGOAL project is an initiative aimed at municipalities, medical practices, citizen initiatives, and social institutions to improve and future-proof outpatient healthcare in rural areas. AMBIGOAL is our response to the challenges facing outpatient healthcare in rural regions. With the support of highly qualified non-medical professionals who form a multiprofessional team, as well as digital applications, medical care can be ensured — including in rural areas. 

Objectives/Outcomes (KTBW contribution): Development of digital community platforms, establishment of consultation hours at municipal town halls, integration of digitalization topics into curricula, and training of Digital Health Ambassadors. 

Project partners: Diakoniewissenschaftliches Institut (DWI), Mednos e.V., Regionalverband Nordschwarzwald, municipalities of Digital Black Forest, SHE AG, University Medical Center Mannheim GmbH, ze:ro Praxen 

AMBIGOAL is an initiative aimed at municipalities, medical practices, citizen initiatives, and social institutions to improve and future-proof outpatient healthcare in rural areas. 

The Philosophy Behind AMBIGOAL 

Outpatient healthcare in rural areas faces major challenges. How can personal healthcare be maintained without requiring patients to travel long distances? How can the succession of general practitioners in rural areas be secured when young medical graduates are rarely interested in working there? What is needed to enable modern and multiprofessional teams to work successfully on site? How can the potential of digitalization in healthcare be utilized without neglecting concerns and reservations? 

AMBIGOAL is the response to the challenges facing outpatient healthcare in rural areas. With the support of highly qualified non-medical professionals and digital applications, medical care can be ensured — including in rural regions. 

PERSONAL: More and more general practitioner practices are struggling to find successors and are therefore forced to close. At the same time, the need for healthcare is increasing as the population ages. Multiprofessional practice staff from different medical fields work hand in hand under one roof, thereby providing digitally supported, community-based healthcare. 

ACCESSIBLE: In the healthcare practices of tomorrow, patients are supported by a competent, multidisciplinary team. Care coordinators, navigators and community nurses work hand in hand under one roof. AMBIGOAL focuses on making healthcare as quick and straightforward to access locally as possible, with short distances and strong social connections within patients’ immediate communities. 

DIGITALLY SUPPORTED: To provide greater access to medical care, we rely on fast and straightforward access to services right where people live through integration, cooperation and coordination. At the same time, AMBIGOAL promotes the intelligent and supportive use of digital healthcare applications (e.g. video consultations, online appointment scheduling, prescription apps, etc.) and embraces their potential without compromising personal support and interaction. 

The new and modern digital healthcare applications are not seen as a replacement, but rather as a complement, support and enrichment throughout the patient journey. They are intended to enhance the personal support patients receive, rather than replace it. 

It’s the combination that makes the difference! It’s not either/or, but both: The interplay of our intelligent solutions provides greater access to medical care through personal proximity and empathy, strong local social networks and digital applications. 

AMBIGOAL is a project of the Center for Preventive Medicine and Digital Health (CPD) at the Medical Faculty Mannheim of Heidelberg University, which the KTBW was part of until 2023. 

Project partner

Ambigoal Projektpartner

Funding agency

Ministerium für Wissenschaft, Forschung und Kunst Baden-Württemberg

The project was funded by the Ministry of Science, Research and the Arts of Baden-Württemberg.