Telemedicine – palliative care: the doctor is in your pocket

The employees of the mobile palliative care of Caritas take care of the seriously ill in the federal state – Gudrun Pfluger is one of them. Every week, qualified nurse Katharina Löcker visits her in Radstadt to examine her. If you have any questions, you can simply connect the responsible doctor via video.

The Caritas mobile palliative care team looks after around 600 seriously ill residents of Salzburg at home. One of them is Gudrun Pfluger, who has been battling a brain tumor for 16 years. “We work closely with the general practitioners,” says qualified nurse Katharina Löcker. The responsible doctor is immediately accessible – virtually. If necessary, the qualified nurse sets up a video connection on site via a tablet. “The fact that a doctor is always available is great for both the nursing staff and the patients,” says Löcker. Patients or relatives can talk directly to the doctor via video link and discuss complaints or concerns with him. “Having a nurse on site means we can react quickly to complaints. In addition, it is often reassuring for patients and their families if a doctor is available immediately if anything is unclear,” says general practitioner Angelika Reischl-Schilchegger. She advises patients from her office. “Of course, this doesn’t replace home visits, but it’s a good addition,” she says. Gudrun Pfluger can only agree with that. “It’s really nice that there’s always a doctor available to answer any questions. There is also enough time for personal discussions”.
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