[The future of social medicine from the practical viewpoint]

Within the German statutory health care system the practice of sociomedicine as an applied health science is mainly related to individual aspects of theinsured persons. Combining factors due to medical and socio-economical developments it plays an important integrative role as so to say a lawyer of the patients. Furthermore, practical sociomedicine must provide consultant services to support the social insurance in the sphere of shaping the health care system. Profound knowledge on the required level must be acquired by graduate studies and can be deepened by well-planned continuing medical education. Professionalism in providing services and fulfillment of legal obligations can be achieved by standardisation of social medical procedures, scientific orientation towards public health aspects, appropriate methods of delivering medical knowledge, use of information systems, refinement of co-operation, quality management, social medical controlling, application of modern planning and control concepts as well as model leadership.