Digital networking of all Bavarian paediatric clinics

The project was initiated by the Bavarian regional association of senior paediatricians as an action measure following the wave of infections last year. As the IT partner, the University of Passau is responsible for the conception, development and implementation of the platform. Bavaria's Minister of Health, Klaus Holetschek, presented the University of Passau and Prof. Dr Keller, Medical Director of the Passau Children's Hospital, as coordinator of the 'virtual children's hospital' expert group and representative of the Bavarian paediatric clinics, with a funding commitment of 360,000 euros for the launch of the project entitled 'virtual children's hospital Bavaria' at a Bavaria-wide medical summit last Monday, 17 July 2023, in Munich.

The aim of the project is to network children's hospitals with one another so that treatment capacities can be better coordinated and telemedical consultations can be offered throughout Bavaria. 'In practice, this means that in future, when there are shortages, an individual doctor will no longer have to phone all the children's hospitals in the area one by one to find a free bed. In addition, doctors and specialist experts in children's hospitals should in future be able to consult with one another more quickly – for example, via video telephony – and provide each other with telemedical support,' said Keller.

'When Matthias Keller came to us with the idea for the project, I thought: this could actually work. And now we are making sure that it really does work,' said Prof. Dr Tomas Sauer, Chair of Mathematics with a focus on Digital Image Processing. 'The German healthcare system is characterised by complexity and a great deal of bureaucracy. If you want to introduce a system, it has to be practical and user-friendly – and that is precisely what the University of Passau is implementing,' Keller, in his capacity as the new Chair of the Association of Senior Paediatricians and Paediatric Surgeons of Germany (VLKKD) in Bavaria, said, expressing his delight at the developments in favour of the Bavarian medical landscape. 'This is an important step forward and, moreover, the beginning of the further expansion of so-called telemedicine.' Once again, the focus is on the fastest and best possible care for young patients: modern, fast, efficient – for the good of the child.

The Bavarian State Ministry of Health and Care is funding the development, implementation and operation, as well as the conceptual further development, of the 'virtual children's hospital Bavaria' project – TeleKiN for short – for a period of three years. 'The presentation of this innovative project as part of the Medical Summit impressively demonstrates that Professors Keller and Sauer are at the forefront of the development of medical care in Bavaria. Munich medicine will position itself as a top-level network worldwide. The Children's Hospital and the University of Passau are flanking this endeavour with a strong paediatric network based on state-of-the-art technology. The professional world and politicians are enthusiastic about this initiative. And so am I!' said Prof. Dr Ulrich Bartosch, President of the University of Passau.

'The Free State of Bavaria is committed to harnessing the opportunities offered by digitalisation. The 'virtual children's hospital' project shows that digitalisation can help improve and modernise care and nursing. It can facilitate workflows and create capacities – for more human warmth and care. With the Highmed Agenda presented, we want to drive forward digitalisation in health and care. This is how we are creating the medicine of the future,' said Bavaria's Minister of Health, Klaus Holetschek, with conviction.

As additional support for paediatrics in Bavaria, the Free State has launched a short-term funding programme worth five million euros.