Wir überwinden Grenzen

Press release by the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Science, Research and the Arts

"Securing nationwide medical care, including in rural areas, is one of the key challenges for our future healthcare system. The corona pandemic has made this very clear to us. We can only master this challenge if we inspire medical students to become rural doctors at an early stage and provide them with comprehensive training for this field of work. For the time after graduation, we also need concrete incentives to encourage graduates to settle in a rural region," said Science Minister Theresia Bauer on Friday (May 29) during a visit to the Medical Center - University of Freiburg. The Minister discussed with representatives of the Medical Center - University of Freiburg and medical students how medical care in rural areas can be ensured in the long term despite difficult conditions.

Together, the Minister and the Faculty of Medicine presented the new "Rural Doctor Track" specialization profile, which is to be anchored in medical studies in Freiburg and at all four other locations in Baden-Württemberg from the coming winter semester 2020/21. The state cabinet will soon be discussing a comprehensive package of measures to strengthen medical care in rural areas, which, in addition to new content in medical studies, includes the expansion of medical study places by 150 places per year and closer networking between Uniklinics, academic teaching hospitals and teaching practices.

"We are already very well positioned in Baden-Württemberg when it comes to strengthening general practice, especially in the cooperation between Unikliniken and teaching practices throughout the state. With our broad-based package of measures, we will have an even greater impact," Bauer said with conviction. The Minister and Uniklinik also presented examples of the possibilities of telemedicine. In a rural doctor's practice in Bötzingen/Kaiserstuhl, the focus was on concrete approaches as to how physicians in private practice in rural areas and cutting-edge university medicine can be networked.

Rural GP medicine specialization profile - the "rural doctor track"

"General medical care in rural areas offers many exciting prospects for aspiring physicians. The aim of the 'Rural Doctor Track' is therefore to arouse enthusiasm for this field of activity at an early stage, to impart the necessary skills and to pave a clear career path into primary medical care. Motivation and volunteering are the key to attracting young people to this profession," emphasized the Minister.

With the new specialization profile, the Faculties of Medicine in Freiburg, Heidelberg, Mannheim, Tübingen and Ulm are offering their students the opportunity to get to know the diverse aspects of general practice during their studies and to optimally qualify for a later career in rural areas. In future, students will be able to choose special, coordinated training modules each semester. They can start at any stage of their studies - all medical students will benefit from the "rural doctor track" and the strengthening of general practice in their studies. The courses also bring them together with regional stakeholders such as GPs, regional outpatient and inpatient care centers as well as municipalities, mayors and district administrators. "The idea is to get students interested in a region at an early stage and, more importantly, to establish contacts there," emphasized Bauer.

"Thanks to the interdisciplinary approach, the faculties, together with the Ministry of Science, are making a valuable contribution to securing general medical care in rural areas in the future," said the Minister. A comprehensive approach was also needed in other areas: These included closer networking and links between physicians in private practice and research at local Uniklinics, the effective use of telemedicine, the expansion of innovative care models such as medical care centers and, last but not least, infrastructural measures, for example with regard to local transport or cultural offerings, in order to increase the attractiveness of the rural medical profession for young graduates. "We are working together with all our strength within the state government here," says Bauer.

Networking and digitalization as the key to medical care

"With our package of measures, we are also further strengthening the networking of our Unikliniken with academic teaching hospitals and teaching practices, smaller clinics and physicians in private practice. In order to better coordinate academic training with the specific requirements of healthcare, we are establishing new structures for regional networking - the Faculties of Medicine are setting up five regions for medical training, for each of which they will assume special responsibility," said the Minister.

The "rural doctor track" is also linked to the further digitalization of research and teaching. "By establishing digital forms of teaching and learning more strongly in medical care, we are bridging distances and at the same time implementing digital care approaches in the area at an early stage," said Bauer. One example of this is the "Südbaden-Life" project, which is being funded by the Ministry of Science with 800,000 euros as part of the "Forum Gesundheitsstandort Baden-Württemberg".

Further information

Medical study places

For the 2020/21 winter semester, the state is creating 150 additional places for first-year students of human medicine at the five Faculties of Medicine in Freiburg, Heidelberg, Mannheim, Tübingen and Ulm in two stages. This means that there will be 1,631 places for first-year students from the 2020/2021 academic year and 1,699 places for first-year students from the 2021/2022 academic year in the state.

"Südbaden-Life"

The project, which is funded by the Ministry of Science, focuses on expanding structures in underserved regions of South Baden in order to significantly increase the attractiveness of medical training, advanced training and long-term business start-ups in the region. The establishment and promotion of professional academic and interprofessional network structures through face-to-face meetings and interactive digital platforms are just as much a part of the project as the integration of innovative concepts from the field of eHealth for better rural and primary medical care. More information at: https://www.forum-gesundheitsstandort-bw.de/projekte/mwk/suedbaden-life-foerderung-der-laendlichen-medizinischen-versorgung