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Medical Staff: how are things changing?

The German healthcare system employs approximately 1.6 million nurses and over 420,000 doctors, distributed across hospitals (44.3%), nursing and retirement homes (32.8%), outpatient services (19.2%), private practices (1.9%), temporary employment agencies (1.3%), and public administration (0.5%).

adobestock

Photo: adobestock

How can the healthcare sector remain competitive when other industries offer home office and flexible working hours?

1. How many medical professionals and nursing staff do we have?

2. How many do we really need?

3. What makes a job in the care sector more attractive, besides higher pay?

1. How has the situation changed for doctors and nurses in recent years?

HCHE

Photo: HCHE

Physicians in the German healthcare system

The number of physicians (including those from abroad) and medical students has risen sharply in recent years; at the same time, more and more physicians are working part-time.

HCHE

Photo: HCHE

Nursing staff in the German healthcare system

Demographic effects have an impact on specialized nursing and medical assistants; this is less pronounced in the case of physicians. The situation of skilled labor varies greatly by sector and region. Fewer skilled workers are available due to more part-time workers.

2. Do we really need more medical professionals?

Hospitals are currently required to have high levels of staffing. Structural reforms can reduce the number of days patients spend in hospital.

HCHE

Photo: HCHE

Reform takes time

In hospitals, staff shortages are mainly the result of structural problems. Reform is a long-term process; noticeable results will take many years. If the reforms are implemented, up to 40% of medical staff in hospitals could be available for the outpatient and care sector.

HCHE

Photo: HCHE

Outpatient physicians remain longer in the system

Physicians in outpatient settings are on average significantly older than colleagues working in hospitals, and they often work beyond the usual retirement age.

(Chart based on data by the Bundesärztekammer and the Kassenärztliche Vereinigung)

3. Options for better conditions for nursing staff

What options do employers/political decision makers have for improving conditions, especially in the care sector?

HCHE

Photo: HCHE

Further options

2. Academization of nursing, restructuring work according to qualification

3. more reliable career paths

4. increased minimum staffing levels and reduction of extreme workload

5. less bureaucracy (documentation requirements), more digitalization

6. Technical innovations, e.g., robotics, can relieve nursing staff

HCHE

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Consideration of gender differences

„Since the share of women in healthcare and long-term nursing professions is high and continues to grow, taking gender differences into account would be an effective way of increasing the attractiveness of these professions.“

Professor Iris Kesternich

Further study

Current Research: "Arbeiten 5.0"

UKE

Photo: UKE

The “Abeiten 5.0” project at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE) is testing new working time models and structures to improve working conditions in nursing. The aim is to harmonize the organizational processes between nursing staff, doctors and other healthcare providers.

Information about the project