"Wait a minute"
New app enables waiting outside the doctor's office
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The state of Hesse and the TK are testing an app called "Wart's Ab", which is supposed to make it easier to organize waiting times in medical practices. We are still looking for participants for the pilot phase.
Who does not know it: You go to the doctor and enter a full waiting room. Even when you have an appointment, you often spend a long time sitting in a confined space with other sick patients. The risk of infection increases significantly as a result – which should be avoided at all times during corona times. The state of Hesse and the Techniker Krankenkasse are therefore currently promoting the pilot phase of an app called "Wart's Ab", which is intended to provide short-term information about when the doctor's treatment can actually take place. This saves patients the full waiting room. In addition, the app should make it easier to plan open consultation hours.
Pilot phase in Hessen
A total of 60 practices in Central Hesse and the Rhine-Main area will initially work with the app. There are two different systems for using it: one version of the app is for practices, another for patients. The practice app can generate a numerical code that the patient then enters into his app. He will then be promptly informed of his actual treatment appointment. "Practice and patient agree on how long it takes to go to the practice so that the sequence of treatment can be optimally planned," said the State of Hesse and TK in a joint communication.
Dr. Barbara Voß, head of the State TK Representation in Hesse, adds loudly Doctors newspaper on this: "The patients not only reduce the risk of infection in the waiting room, but can also use the waiting time flexibly, for example to rest in bed at home until just before the doctor's appointment or to continue working in the home office." The project partners emphasize that the data exchange between the two app versions is completely anonymous – therefore no personal data should be exchanged.
Participants wanted for the pilot phase
Doctors' practices from the test area can apply for participation until the end of April 2021 at www.warts-ab.org. The TH Mittelhessen will then carry out a scientific evaluation and select the practices that can test the app.