German healthcare industry sets sights on integrated care
This article was originally published in Clinica
Executive Summary
The introduction of the German diagnosis related groups (DRG) system for hospital reimbursement will intensify the need for integrated care procedures. This was the universal sentiment expressed by delegates to the medical device industry association BVMed's special conference on integrated care held last week in Mainz. The DRG system will reduce the average length of hospital stay and would consequently place added pressure on the ambulatory sector, including home care, experts said.