Health barometer 02/2024: Social responsibility in the healthcare sector

Social responsibility plays a crucial role in the healthcare sector. It is the basis for sustainable and equitable healthcare and can not only improve the well-being of patients, but also make a positive contribution to society.

In view of demographic change, a noticeable labour shortage in the healthcare sector and digitalisation with its many opportunities for automating processes, it is particularly important that the healthcare sector takes responsibility and actively promotes equal access to medical care. Social responsibility is also very important for the situation of medical staff. This involves issues such as working conditions, diversity, the advancement of women and sustainable training. This is not only at the centre of social debate, but also plays a decisive role in the future viability of the healthcare sector and its companies.

The current issue of the Healthcare Barometer therefore looks at social responsibility in the healthcare sector and its many facets, such as responsibility for resources, valuing labour, gender-sensitive treatment and cultural integration.

• We spoke to Franz Helmut Gerhard from DAK-Gesundheit about the use of electronic patient records. He explains how digitalisation can contribute to improved healthcare. 
• Constance von Struensee, Head of Human Resources at Agaplesion gAG, explained in an interview why human resources management based on Christian values is in keeping with the times and how it can succeed.
• We spoke to Dr Mechthild Schmedders from the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds about the importance of the nursing profession. She is certain that appreciation and self-confidence can give the profession a new boost.
• Prof. Dr Anke Hinney and Dr Andrea Kindler-Röhrborn, both from the University of Duisburg-Essen, explain how gender-specific analyses and individual therapies contribute to improving healthcare in an interview on the importance of gender medicine.
• Dr Anne Latz, doctor and co-founder, provides insights into the founding experiences of her e-health start-up Hello Inside. She also presents the disease-preventive option of continuous blood glucose monitoring, for which Hello Inside has developed a product.
• We learnt more about the training strategy of HELIOS Kliniken GmbH from Corinna Glenz, Managing Director of Human Resources at the hospital company. For her, digitalisation and social commitment are the key factors for future-oriented personnel development in the healthcare sector.
• Dr Johannes Wimmer and Clemens Meyer-Holz from Pflege ABC GmbH present a digital platform for family carers. It offers practical care knowledge and aims to help people who care for relatives to reconcile this with family and career.
• Care between tradition and innovation: Evangelische Altenheimat gGmbH proves that the two go hand in hand. Managing Director Gabriele Blume reveals how the diaconal care organisation achieves this. 
• The healthtech start-up Novaheal GmbH has developed a learning app for care trainees. Co-founder Turan Tahmas describes how this knowledge is available on demand in nursing training.
• Dr Bernadette Klapper, Federal Managing Director of the German Professional Association for Nursing Professions, spoke to us about her visions for structural and legal reform proposals for nursing and healthcare.
• Under the title "Human, healthcare!", Peter Lamers, Partner Healthcare and Nikolai Fritsche, Senior Manager Healthcare, both KPMG Law Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH, describe in a specialist article why the use of artificial intelligence requires common sense and what needs to be considered from a legal perspective.