Geprüfter Berufsspezialist für ambulante medizinische Versorgung/Geprüfte Berufsspezialistin für ambulante medizinische Versorgung

The advanced training takes place at educational institutions of the state medical associations and other educational institutions. For in-person events, the learning locations are classrooms; for combined learning forms (e.g., blended learning), they are classrooms for in-person events and home for online learning units.

Occupation Type: Advanced training occupation: Specialist. Type of Advanced Training: Advanced training according to the regulations of the state medical associations. Duration of Advanced Training: Varies, 1-2 years (part-time) – depending on the educational offer and learning format. Tasks and Activities: Specialists for outpatient medical care support doctors in managing medical practices or other medical facilities. They handle personnel planning and organization, guide non-medical staff and trainees (Auszubildende), and perform administrative and billing tasks. They also monitor the proper documentation and communication of medical data or compliance with occupational safety and health protection. In patient care, they assist medical personnel and, within the permitted scope, perform preliminary examinations, for example. They prepare patient data, coordinate treatment processes, accompany patients during treatments, and provide information.

Varies depending on the educational offer and learning format: Part-time: 1-2 years.

Distribution of hours in the compulsory part (exemplary): In the eight modules: Learning and Working Methodology: 40 teaching units. Communication and Team Leadership: 40 teaching units. Quality Management: 40 teaching units. Implementation of Training: 40 teaching units. Business Management of Practice: 40 teaching units. Information and Communication Technologies: 40 teaching units. Occupational and Health Protection: 40 teaching units. Risk Patients and Emergency Management: 40 teaching units. Total number of teaching hours: 320 teaching units (equivalent to 240 hours). Additionally, in the compulsory part: Self-directed and self-organized learning, especially preparation and follow-up for the eight modules: at least 140 hours. Preparation of the project work: 40 hours. Total number of hours in the compulsory part: 420 hours. In addition to the compulsory part, an elective part is added (at least 90 hours). In the elective part, various specialist certificates can be obtained.

Course fees are incurred for attending preparatory courses, and examination fees for the examination itself. Further costs may arise, for example, for working materials, travel to the training center, or external accommodation. Funding Opportunities: Preparatory courses for the advanced training examination can be financially supported according to the Advanced Training Assistance Act (Aufstiegsfortbildungsförderungsgesetz). Further information: Aufstiegs-BAföG - Advancement with Funding. Support for particularly talented young professionals: Stiftung Begabtenförderung berufliche Bildung (SBB) - Advanced Training Scholarship.

Compulsory Part: Learning and Working Methodology, e.g., presentation media, self-management, project planning. Communication and Team Leadership, e.g., interview techniques, personnel deployment planning. Quality Management, e.g., introduction and development of quality management systems, quality management cycle. Implementation of Training, e.g., organization and implementation of the Ausbildung (vocational training) for medical assistants. Business Management of Practice, e.g., practice organization, cost management, practice purchasing, marketing. Information and Communication Technologies, e.g., data processing, data protection and security. Occupational and Health Protection, e.g., legal bases of occupational medicine, infection protection measures, coordinating occupational safety and health protection measures. Risk Patients and Emergency Management, e.g., health risks, emergency situations, measures within the framework of emergency management, emergency medications and devices. Elective Part: There are various specialist certificates.

In-depth knowledge in the following areas is a good prerequisite for successfully passing the advanced training examination: Medicine (e.g., to recognize health risks and emergency medical situations), Economics/Organization (e.g., to efficiently plan and manage operational processes), Pedagogy (e.g., to help design further training for employees), and Employee Leadership and Guidance (e.g., to apply methods such as target agreements or feedback).

The advanced training consists of theoretical instruction and, if applicable, exercises. Depending on the education provider, one should expect the following conditions: Instruction time is usually part-time advanced training on weekends or in the evenings. For classroom events, learning takes place in a classroom setting at the educational institution (possibly not in the place of residence). For combined learning forms (e.g., Blended Learning), there are classroom events at the educational institution and self-directed learning via electronic learning platforms and systems from home.

Participation in preparatory courses is not remunerated.

The following advanced training alternatives are available for the profession of Specialist for Outpatient Medical Care: In the field of Pharmacy, 'Geprüfter Pharmareferent/Geprüfte Pharmareferentin' (Certified Pharmaceutical Representative) shares the commonality of applying knowledge about medications and active ingredients. In the field of Nursing, 'Pflegesachverständiger/Pflegesachverständige' (Nursing Expert) shares the commonality of taking on specialized tasks in nursing organization. In the field of Health and Social Management, options include 'Betriebswirt/Betriebswirtin (Fachschule) für Management im Gesundheitswesen/Bachelor Professional in Wirtschaft' (Business Administrator (Technical College) for Management in Healthcare/Bachelor Professional in Business), 'Betriebswirt/Betriebswirtin (Fachschule) für Sozialwesen' (Business Administrator (Technical College) for Social Services), 'Geprüfter Fachwirt/Geprüfte Fachwirtin im Gesundheits- und Sozialwesen' (Certified Specialist in Health and Social Services), and 'Staatlich geprüfter Fachwirt/Staatlich geprüfte Fachwirtin für Organisation und Führung Schwerpunkt Sozialpädagogik' (State-Certified Specialist for Organization and Leadership with a focus on Social Pedagogy), all sharing the commonality of taking on specialized and leadership tasks in health and social services. In the field of Medicine, 'Nicht-ärztlicher Praxisassistent/Nicht-ärztliche Praxisassistentin' (Non-medical Practice Assistant) shares the common...

In the mid-1970s, qualification measures for medical assistants were developed by the state medical associations. In 1994, regulations for advanced training as a medical assistant were established based on a common framework concept with a defined minimum standard, developed by several state chambers. In 2000, the advanced training for medical assistants was reconceptualized by the state medical associations and the Federal Medical Association. In 2006, the vocational training (Ausbildung) for medical assistants was modernized and renamed 'Medizinischer Fachangestellte/Medizinische Fachangestellte' (Medical Assistant). The new orientation and changed level of the vocational training were also considered for the advanced training of medical assistants. In 2009, a framework curriculum and a model examination regulation for the advanced training 'Fachwirt/Fachwirtin für ambulante Versorgung' (Specialist for Outpatient Care) were adopted by the Federal Medical Association. Special legal provisions for the advanced training examination were issued by the state medical associations. In 2020, new regulations were introduced.

Depending on the responsible chamber, titles such as 'Fachwirt für ambulante medizinische Versorgung (Geprüfter Berufsspezialist für ambulante medizinische Versorgung)' or 'Fachwirtin für ambulante medizinische Versorgung (Geprüfte Berufsspezialistin für ambulante medizinische Versorgung)' are used. They are also simply referred to as 'Fachwirt für ambulante medizinische Versorgung' or 'Fachwirtin für ambulante medizinische Versorgung'.

The Specialist for Outpatient Medical Care is a professional advanced training. It is regulated by the State Chambers of Physicians (Landesärztekammern). The part-time training lasts 1-2 years.

After their advanced training, Specialists for Outpatient Medical Care can work, for example, in doctors' offices of all specialties, medical laboratories, or rehabilitation and health centers. Through adaptive advanced training (Anpassungsweiterbildung), one can keep their specialized knowledge current, up-to-date, and expand it. The range of topics extends from practice management to medical documentation. Building on existing qualifications, promotional advanced training (Aufstiegsweiterbildung) can expand and complement one's competence profile. It is a logical step to complete advanced training as a Business Administrator for Management in Healthcare (Betriebswirt/in für Management im Gesundheitswesen). With their advanced training qualification, Specialists for Outpatient Medical Care can also gain access to university studies (Studium) without a school-based higher education entrance qualification (schulische Hochschulzugangsberechtigung) and, for example, obtain a Bachelor's degree.

For the examination, the responsible State Chambers of Physicians (Landesärztekammern) issue examination regulations, e.g.: The Advanced Training Examination Regulations for Specialists for Outpatient Medical Care (Geprüfte/r Berufsspezialist/in für ambulante medizinische Versorgung) from 13.12.2023 (Saxon State Chamber of Physicians). Overview of the responsible State Chambers of Physicians: Specialist for Outpatient Medical Care, regulations of the responsible bodies for professional advanced training.

The prerequisite for admission to the advanced training examination is usually: the final examination as a Medical Assistant (Medizinischer Fachangestellter/Medizinische Fachangestellte) or Doctor's Assistant (Arzthelfer/in - precursor profession) and participation in a preparatory course OR the final examination in another 3-year medical specialist profession in conjunction with relevant 3-year professional experience and participation in a preparatory course.