Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 27, 2025

Digital Home-Monitoring of Patients after Kidney Transplantation: The MACCS Platform
Published on: April 12, 2021
Optimal@NRW: optimized acute care of nursing home residents using an intersectoral telemedical cooperation network -
David Brücken1, Jenny Unterkofler1, Sophie Pauge2
1Department for Acute and Emergency Medicine, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, 52074, Aachen, Germany.
Background:
Increasing life expectancy is associated with a growing number of people living in nursing homes, while the availability of outpatient medical care, especially from family doctors, is stagnating in this sector. Consequently, numerous and often avoidable, low-threshold hospitalizations of nursing home residents are observed. This results in unnecessary use of resources such as emergency services and emergency rooms as well as in potential health risks to the nursing home residents related to hospitalization. This study aims to improve this healthcare gap by implementing an intersectoral telemedicine approach.
Methods:
Twenty-five nursing homes are participating and provided with telemedical equipment to perform teleconsultations. Additionally, an early warning system and a digital patient record system are implemented. Telephysicians based at RWTH Aachen University Hospital are ready to support the nursing homes around the clock if the family doctor or an emergency service practice is not available in time. Mobile non-physician practice assistants from the telemedicine centre can be dispatched to perform delegable medical activities. General practitioners and the medical emergency practices also have access to the telemedical infrastructure and the non-physician practice assistants.
Discussion:
Optimal@NRW adds a telemedicine component to standard care - combining elements of outpatient and inpatient health care as well as emergency service practices - to enable timely medical consultation for nursing home residents in case of the development of an acute medical condition. In addition to optimized medical care, the goal is to reduce unnecessary hospital admissions. The intersectoral approach allows for the appropriate use of resources to match the individually needed medical treatment.
Trial Registration:
ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04879537 . Registered on May 10, 2021.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Acute Coronary Syndrome IV: Interprofessional Care
Acute Kidney Injury V: Interprofessional Care
Documentation in Long-Term and Home Healthcare Setting
Long-Term Care Facilities
Aneurysm III: Interprofessional Care
Interdisciplinary Care: The Health Care Team-II
Physical Therapist
A physical therapist (PT) aims to restore function or prevent additional impairment in a patient following an injury or disease. Massage, heat, cold, water, sonar waves, exercises, and electrical stimulation are some treatments used by PTs to treat...
Tertiary Healthcare System

