[Morbidity developments in the demographic change: availability of medical services in regional care]

The proportion of older people will increase strongly in Germany in the coming years. A consequence is an increase in patient numbers particularly for age-associated diseases and multimorbidity. Higher numbers of patients mean greater use of medical services and a higher demand for home visits with older patients. Although the total population is declining, the need for doctors will increase in certain medical areas, for example in the primary care sector. In many rural areas the reoccupation of vacant practices is already becoming a problem. Innovative, flexible and regionally organized healthcare concepts are necessary to ensure adequate medical care. Duties and responsibilities must be transferred between health professions and across sector boundaries, for example on the basis of delegation concepts, telemedicine and better cooperation between the outpatient and inpatient settings.