Pilotprojekt
TELEMEDICINE
Telemedicine holds significant potential, particularly in rural areas. In regions with a low density of physicians and long distances to healthcare facilities, patients especially value access to digital medical care.
For this reason, the VI Institute has developed a secure communication platform. It is specifically designed to facilitate communication between physicians on one side and healthcare professionals—such as nursing staff, Red Cross personnel, and others—on the other.
This allows, for example, a registered nurse to document wounds or inflammations via video or photo and discuss them directly with the physician. Alternatively, the camera can be directed to specific areas of the body under the doctor’s guidance. Patients themselves do not need to manage any of the technology.
The platform enables the secure exchange of medical reports, images, and videos, with end-to-end encryption ensuring full data privacy.
Practical Test
But does this development also prove effective in practice?
To test this, we trialed the platform in a nursing home and in home care as part of a pilot project. The goal was to improve medical care within the service area of the Caritas Nursing Home Johannes der Täufer (Kirchschlag, Bucklige Welt) and to make collaboration between nursing staff and physicians more efficient.
Organizational Measures
First, several organizational measures were implemented. By providing modern diagnostic devices and the specially developed DermaVisio App from the VI Institute, essential examinations—such as ECGs, blood analyses, or wound photography—could be performed on-site by nursing professionals and transmitted digitally to the participating general practitioner, Dr. Barbara Raubal.
Results
The results of the project showed that telemedicine offers significant benefits, even though the introduction of new workflows requires time and adaptation.
of the nursing staff reported that the use of telemedicine improved the safety and quality of their work practices.
of the nursing staff stated that telemedicine provides valuable relief for the personnel.
of telemedical consultations were rated as “very good” or “good” by the nursing staff.
Compared to traditional in-person visits, the physician was able to save an average of 10 minutes per consultation, which can contribute to increased efficiency.
of cases, telemedicine successfully assisted the patient, and in 100% of cases, a hospital stay was either avoided or deemed unnecessary.
of cases, a hospital stay was either avoided or not required.
Although the project provided valuable insights into the potential of telemedicine, it also revealed certain challenges: As with any new technology, the introduction of telemedicine requires adaptation to new ways of working. Therefore, an initial period of training and transition is necessary to integrate these changes effectively and implement the required organizational adjustments.
Conclusion
The feedback from participants clearly showed that, in the long term, telemedicine can serve as a valuable complement to traditional care—particularly through a gradual introduction and stronger involvement of physicians. The results of the project provide a solid foundation for the further development and scaling of telemedical solutions in the Bucklige Welt region and in similar healthcare institutions.
Projectteam
Projects like this can only be realized with the dedication of a committed team, including:
Sozialhilfeverein Kirchschlag
Caritas Nursing Home “Haus Johannes der Täufer”
Dr. Barbara Raubal (General Practitioner)
Mayor Karl Kager
Elisabeth Binder (Head of Home Nursing Services)
Sabine Jedamski (Head of Nursing and Facility Management)
Alexandra Zabel (Head of Residential Care Unit)
LAG Bucklige Welt – Wechselland Association
DI Walter Kirchler (NOE Regional)
Special thanks go to the Sozialhilfeverein Kirchschlag, under the leadership of Mayor Kager, who initiated this project.
The nursing staff, the physician, and her team made significant contributions to the project’s success through their great commitment and openness despite the additional demands. The residents of the nursing home also provided valuable input through their feedback and positive attitude toward telemedicine.
Without this joint effort, the project could not have been realized in its current form.
Funding
The public interest in our telemedicine platform is also reflected in the support and co-financing provided by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Regions and Water Management (Wir leben Land), the Province of Lower Austria, and the European Union.
