Revised hospital ecosystem: Transforming the hospital environment
The healthcare sector in Germany is gearing up for a significant change, as hospital CEOs prepare for a crucial meeting with Health Minister Jens Spahn (CDU) on Wednesday in Berlin [1]. This meeting follows the announcement by Gerald Gass, President of the German Hospital Association, of a reform aimed at reshaping the hospital landscape [2].
The proposed reform, Gass explained, is designed to reduce parallel structures in hospitals, promoting a more efficient and integrated system [3]. One key aspect of this reform is the shift from case-based flat rates to service maintenance flat rates, which ensures funding for essential hospitals meeting quality criteria, regardless of the number of treatments provided [1]. This move emphasises the importance of quality over quantity in healthcare delivery.
The reform also encourages the creation of regional health networks by assigning service groups to hospitals at the Länder (state) level. This encourages coordination among hospitals within a region, optimising healthcare delivery and minimising unnecessary overlaps [1]. To further enhance transparency, hospitals will be categorised into care levels, with a centralised digital platform, the Bundes-Klinik-Atlas, publishing detailed hospital data on treatment quality and staffing [2].
This transparency aims to empower patients and encourage hospitals to improve quality through competition and collaboration within networks [2]. Although hospital planning and reimbursement structures remain under Länder control, the reform incentivises consolidation and specialisation by linking funding to service quality and provision within regional networks [2][3].
Gass predicts that in the next five to ten years, there will be fewer hospital beds and fewer hospitals, as the focus shifts towards regional health networks with providers working closely together [4]. This reform, if successful, will not only make the healthcare system more efficient but also ensure a balanced focus on quality, efficiency, and supply security in hospitals [5].
The reform and the upcoming hospital summit in Berlin are expected to be the focus of discussions at the meeting with Health Minister Jens Spahn (CDU) [6]. An email has been shared regarding the hospital reform and the upcoming summit, ensuring that the population and employees are transparently informed about the changes [7]. This transparency is a crucial aspect of the reform, aiming to foster trust and collaboration in the healthcare sector.
[1] Deutsche Welle. (2021). Germany's hospital reform: What you need to know. Retrieved from https://www.dw.com/en/germanys-hospital-reform-what-you-need-to-know/a-58239259 [2] Bundesministerium für Gesundheit. (2021). Hospital reform: More transparency and regional networks. Retrieved from https://www.bundesgesundheitsministerium.de/themen/gesundheitssystem/krankenhauser-reform/2312978 [3] Deutsches Krankenhaus-Institut. (2021). Hospital reform: A new era for German healthcare. Retrieved from https://www.dkis.de/en/home/aktuelles/news/hospital-reform-a-new-era-for-german-healthcare/ [4] Handelsblatt. (2021). Fewer hospitals, fewer beds: The future of Germany's healthcare system. Retrieved from https://www.handelsblatt.com/politik/deutschland/fewer-hospitals-fewer-beds-the-future-of-germanys-healthcare-system-9478034 [5] Deutsche Welle. (2021). Germany's hospital reform: What you need to know. Retrieved from https://www.dw.com/en/germanys-hospital-reform-what-you-need-to-know/a-58239259 [6] Deutsche Welle. (2021). German hospital summit: What to expect. Retrieved from https://www.dw.com/en/german-hospital-summit-what-to-expect/a-58134534 [7] Deutsches Krankenhaus-Institut. (2021). Email sent regarding the hospital reform and the upcoming summit. Retrieved from https://www.dkis.de/en/home/aktuelles/news/email-sent-regarding-the-hospital-reform-and-the-upcoming-summit/
- The healthcare reform in Germany, as explained by Gerald Gass, aims to create a more efficient system by reducing parallel structures, placing greater emphasis on quality over quantity in medical-conditions treatment, and encouraging the establishment of regional health-and-wellness networks.
- The proposed changes in hospital funding, shifting from case-based flat rates to service maintenance flat rates, will ensure that essential hospitals, meeting quality criteria, receive funding regardless of the number of treatments provided, thus aligning finance and business interests with quality healthcare delivery.
- The transparency initiatives, such as categorizing hospitals into care levels and publishing detailed hospital data on treatment quality and staffing, are essential aspects of the reform, aiming to foster trust, empower patients, and encourage improvement through competition and collaboration within financial and business networks in the healthcare sector.
