The German Hospital Association (DKG) and the German Society for Telemedicine (DGTelemed) have issued a joint position paper calling for increased medical cannabis telemedicine in German hospitals and doctors’ offices. The Association and Society cite a shortage of specialized workers, especially in rural regions, as one reason greater integration is warranted.
Telemedicine involves patients visiting a doctor over the internet instead of in the doctor’s office, and DKG and DGTelemed indicated in their joint position paper that it is important “to move away from the idea that good care can only be provided at the location.” The position paper was published earlier this month.
“Telemedicine gives doctors access to specialist knowledge and patients access to care close to their homes. This avoids many transfers. This saves valuable resources at both university hospitals and smaller hospitals,” Gernot Marx, Chairman of the Board of DGTelemed, stated according to local reporting by Ärzteblatt.
