Audio: Landtag debates on municipal medical care centers (1 min)
Status: 26.09.2025 3:09 p.m.
How can it be that all people in Schleswig-Holstein are looked after close to home by resident doctors? That’s what it went on Friday in the state parliament. Can medical care centers be the solution?
The family doctor no longer accepts more patients. Or there is no doctor anymore because the last doctor retired – and no successor comes. Many Schleswig -Holsteiners know the problem – all speakers in the state parliament agreed on Friday (September 26th). But how do you deal with the problem?
MVZ: Doctors as an employee
Table of Contents
- 1. MVZ: Doctors as an employee
- 2. SPD: MVZ as a building block
- 3. FDP: Care will look different than before
- 4. CDU: Not just put on MVZ
- 5. Greens: Divergence between supply on paper and real care
- 6. KVSH criticizes the application
- 7. how can team-based care models within healthcare centers optimize physician time and improve patient throughput?
- 8. Redefining Medical Access: Can Healthcare Centers Bridge the Doctor Shortage?
- 9. The Growing Crisis of physician Scarcity
- 10. Healthcare Centers: A Proactive Solution
- 11. The Role of Technology in Expanding Access
- 12. Benefits of Strengthening Healthcare Centers
- 13. Case Study: FQHC Success in Rural Mississippi
- 14. Practical Tips for Patients Seeking Care
With medical care centers (MVZ) in municipal sponsorship. At least that suggests the SPD, FDP and SSW. MVZ are facilities in which doctors work together under one roof as employees or contract doctors. There are currently nine of them in the country. In a joint application, they want to ask the state government to secure medical care in the country primarily with the help of medical care centers and to create a state funding program for it. The application was transferred to the social committee at the end of the debate – for further advice. Before that there was a lively debate on the topic.
SPD: MVZ as a building block
“We face the great challenge that more and more people are getting older,” said Birte Pauls (SPD) in her speech. At the same time, around 30 percent of family doctors are over 60 years old. The successors are difficult to find, also because many young people no longer wanted to work independently as a doctor. There is an admission stop in many practices. “The state government has a haphazard this development,” she denounced it. Municipal medical care centers could be a component to ensure medical care in under -providing areas of the country. As a positive example, she mentioned Büsum, where a municipal MVZ was created – also with the help of state funds.
Where there is no other way, the state has to work.
Birte Pauls (SPD)
FDP: Care will look different than before
It was possible to ensure medical care, Heiner Garg (FDP) was confident. And that when you tell people that this care will look different than before. An MVZ is an offer to patients – and to doctors. “The municipal medical care center can also be just a keyboard provider,” he said.
Christian Dirschauer (SSW) demanded that the state government should be more involved in the nationwide health care. “It urgently needs to get all relevant actors to a table and develop a comprehensive cross -sector concept with them that is based on the real care needs.” There are not enough financially underpinned programs in the country.
CDU: Not just put on MVZ
Whether MVZ, as suggested by SPD, FDP and SSW, can be the right solution for lack of house and specialist in the country, the MP Hauke Hansen (CDU) doubted. Everything you change now has to match the so -called primary doctor system, he noted. The family doctor always provides the patient to the responsible specialist. MVZs could relax the supply situation in the country. “But it does not help how the opposition demands in your application if we as a country only promote MVZ in municipal sponsorship.” He spoke out against one -sided funding. An improvement in the situation can be achieved with the nationwide use of digital possibilities. In addition, medical assistants should receive more skills. There are many set screws in the gearbox of outpatient care, said Hansen.
Greens: Divergence between supply on paper and real care
Jasper Balke (Greens) pointed out that the state was not responsible for outpatient medical care. “This is the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians, which we, as a corporation under public law, have transferred the care in the outpatient medical field. And: Even if a region is oversupply on paper, there are waiting times of several months – for example in psychotherapy. “That means we have a divergence between the supply on paper – and the supply that arrives in people – and that is a huge problem.”
KVSH criticizes the application
Minister of Health Kerstin von der Kecken (CDU) referred to the security mandate of the Schleswig-Holstein (KVSH) Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians and spoke out for a variety of sponsors. “We welcome every advance in Schleswig-Holstein who thinks and structured the care. And as soon as the federal government has set clear delimitation, we will adapt our system to the new specifications,” announced the minister.
Criticism of the opposition factions came from the KVSH. A one -sided promotion of MVZ, which are operated by communities, falls short. Such funding would disadvantage the practices and MVZ borne by doctors, according to the CEO of KVSH, Bettina Schultz.
how can team-based care models within healthcare centers optimize physician time and improve patient throughput?
Redefining Medical Access: Can Healthcare Centers Bridge the Doctor Shortage?
The Growing Crisis of physician Scarcity
The United States, and increasingly other nations, are facing a critical shortage of physicians. This isn’t a future problem; it’s happening now. Factors contributing to this include an aging population requiring more care,physician burnout,uneven geographic distribution of doctors,and a slower rate of new physician training compared to demand. This scarcity directly impacts access to healthcare, leading to longer wait times, reduced quality of care, and ultimately, poorer health outcomes. Rural communities and underserved populations are disproportionately affected by this doctor shortage.
Healthcare Centers: A Proactive Solution
Healthcare centers – encompassing Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), Rural Health Clinics (RHCs), and community health centers – are emerging as vital components in addressing this challenge.They offer a unique model of care delivery that can effectively expand primary care access and alleviate the strain on traditional hospital systems.
Here’s how:
* Team-Based Care: Healthcare centers champion a team-based approach. This means physicians work alongside nurse practitioners (NPs), physician assistants (PAs), registered nurses (RNs), and community health workers (CHWs). This collaborative model allows physicians to focus on complex cases while other qualified professionals manage routine care, maximizing efficiency and patient throughput.
* Expanded Scope of practice: Utilizing NPs and PAs to their full potential is crucial. These advanced practice providers can diagnose, treat, and prescribe medications, significantly increasing the number of patients served. States with more progressive scope of practice laws for NPs and PAs generally demonstrate better healthcare access.
* Focus on Preventative Care: Healthcare centers prioritize preventative services – screenings, vaccinations, and health education – reducing the need for costly emergency room visits and hospitalizations down the line. This proactive approach is a cornerstone of population health management.
* Geographic Focus: FQHCs and RHCs are specifically designed to serve underserved areas, often establishing clinics in locations where private practices are unwilling or unable to operate. This targeted approach directly addresses healthcare disparities.
* Integrated Care Models: Many healthcare centers are adopting integrated care models, bringing behavioral health, dental care, and pharmacy services under one roof. This holistic approach improves patient outcomes and reduces fragmentation of care.
The Role of Technology in Expanding Access
Technology is a powerful enabler in bridging the healthcare gap. Healthcare centers are leveraging several key technologies:
* Telehealth: Virtual consultations allow patients to connect with providers remotely, overcoming geographic barriers and reducing wait times. telemedicine is particularly valuable for chronic disease management and follow-up care.
* Electronic Health Records (EHRs): EHRs facilitate seamless data sharing between providers,improving care coordination and reducing medical errors.Interoperability between EHR systems is key to maximizing this benefit.
* Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM): RPM devices allow providers to track patients’ vital signs and health data remotely,enabling early intervention and preventing hospitalizations. This is particularly useful for managing conditions like diabetes and heart failure.
* Artificial Intelligence (AI): AI-powered tools can assist with tasks like appointment scheduling, triage, and diagnosis, freeing up providers to focus on patient care. AI in healthcare is still evolving, but its potential is significant.
Benefits of Strengthening Healthcare Centers
Investing in and expanding healthcare centers yields numerous benefits:
* Improved Health Outcomes: Increased access to primary care leads to earlier diagnosis and treatment of health conditions, resulting in better health outcomes.
* Reduced Healthcare Costs: Preventative care and chronic disease management reduce the need for expensive emergency room visits and hospitalizations.
* Economic Development: Healthcare centers create jobs and stimulate economic activity in the communities they serve.
* Enhanced Equity: Healthcare centers provide care to all, regardless of their ability to pay, promoting health equity.
* Reduced Burden on Hospitals: By providing accessible primary care, healthcare centers alleviate the strain on hospital emergency departments.
Case Study: FQHC Success in Rural Mississippi
The Delta Health Center in Mississippi, a network of FQHCs, serves a predominantly rural and underserved population. By employing a team-based care model, utilizing telehealth, and focusing on preventative services, they have significantly improved access to care and health outcomes in the region. They’ve demonstrated a measurable reduction in hospital readmission rates for patients with chronic conditions and increased rates of preventative screenings. This model serves as a blueprint for other rural communities facing similar challenges. (Source: Delta Health Center Annual Report, 2024)
Practical Tips for Patients Seeking Care
* Find a Local Healthcare center: Use the HRSA (Health Resources and Services Administration) Find a Health Center tool (https://findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov/) to locate a healthcare center near you.
* Understand Your Insurance Coverage: Confirm whether your insurance plan covers services at the healthcare center. Many centers offer a sliding fee scale based on income.
* Utilize Telehealth Options: if available, consider telehealth appointments for routine check-ups and follow-up care.
* Be Proactive about your Health: Schedule regular preventative screenings and







