German Medical Award 2019 celebrates the future of (patient) care

The German Medical Award will take place on November 18, 2019, as part of the MEDICA trade fair in Düsseldorf. The ceremony emphasizes the commitment to excellence in cutting-edge care for patients. Doctors, clinical centers and companies in the medical and healthcare industry can demonstrate their achievements in medicine and management in hopes of receiving the coveted award.

In this MEDICA.de interview, Yvonne Esser talks about the spirit and purpose of the German Medical Award, explains the role patients play before and during the Award ceremony, illustrates the current state of patient care and explains why the German Medical Award is a trendsetter.

What are the guiding principles of the German Medical Award?

Yvonne Esser: The German Medical Award is the leading medical and medical management award in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

It honors transparency and quality in medicine and is aimed at clinical facilities and registered medical practitioners, medical teams and innovative healthcare companies in the field of research. The Award focuses on the commitment to excellence in cutting-edge care for patients.

Emphasis is also placed on interdisciplinary, medical, technical, and pharmaceutical care solutions and on an outstanding approach to patient-oriented hospital and medical practice management, as well as the use of modern communication technology tools.

To further illustrate the trendsetting spirit of the German Medical Award, we also honor the best academic papers. We accept both Bachelor's and Master's theses and dissertations applications. This also includes activities and projects of university students as it relates to healthcare.

In addition to its commitment to future-oriented medicine, the German Medical Award also promotes charitable projects and causes.

What is the goal of the German Medical Award?

Esser: The Award program, which was first established in 2015, aims to prominently feature doctors, clinical centers and companies in the medical and healthcare industry and their commitment to excellence in the cutting-edge care for patients. The German Medical Award has become a visible platform in the healthcare market that honors outstanding achievements of physicians and other health professionals. This raises their visibility and awareness of their achievements, which they can leverage to distinguish themselves as highly established professionals in the eyes of patients.

The Award recognizes outstanding excellence in healthcare and promotes innovative and cutting-edge care approaches. The Award highlights activities that demonstrate the basic principles of medical ethics and strive for the highest quality standards.

Who are the Award recipients?

Esser: Award winners must demonstrate a focus on patient-centered care and produce a recognizable benefit for patients. Applicants may include medical practitioners and scientists in the medical fields of orthopedics, neurology, neurosurgery and general medicine with a focus on diabetology, hypertension, and prevention. An esteemed medical and scientific panel selects the award winners based on extensive assessments and analyses. The level of innovation, professional quality and commitment to improvements that benefit patients is the deciding factor.

How are the award recipients selected?

Esser: Essentially all medical practitioners and healthcare companies can submit a German Medical Award application. The facility size is not an application criterion. We honor transparency and quality in medicine – whether it’s a physician who works in a solo practice or a medical center, a university hospital or an owner-operated medical technologist working in a specialty area is irrelevant. Our Club and the judging panel focus exclusively on innovation, transparency, quality, and patient benefit.

Do patients have a say in the German Medical Award?

Esser: The findings and experiences in many medical practices and clinical facilities have shown that patient care is often transactional and impersonal due to time constraints and countless regulations. Patients tend to be rarely seen and treated as individuals with unique needs. Patients can nominate their physician and his team for a German Medical Award to recognize their achievements.

A Scientific Symposium will precede the German Medical Award. What is being discussed at this venue?

Esser: Doctors, scientists, and other health experts review the latest healthcare topics in front of an audience of professionals and patients. Topics run the gamut from gender medicine and new cardiovascular disease treatments to the digitization of doctor’s offices and patient education.

What is the Medical Charity Award event?

Esser: The Medical Charity Award honors the social commitment and responsibility in healthcare shown by organizations and individuals. Düsseldorf, the state capital of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), Professor Andreas Meyer-Falcke, Commissioner Human Resources Management, Health, IT and Citizens’ Service of the City of Düsseldorf, and the German Medical Award support the "SMS Promoting Health for Socially Disadvantaged Elementary School Children" charity project of the German Diabetes Center in Düsseldorf as part of the 2019 event.

Why is the German Medical Award a trendsetter?

Esser: The annual German Medical Award will kick off on November 18. Every year it will afford us the opportunity to highlight outstanding achievements of quality and transparency, and to show patients where they can expect the best healthcare services at the highest professional level guided by patient-centered principles.