Primary care-centered treatment

In general practitioner-centred care, also known as the GP model, your general practitioner is your first point of contact. They coordinate your entire treatment and work closely with all service providers involved in your care, such as specialists and therapists. This helps to avoid duplicate examinations, better coordinate drug therapies, and prevent hospital stays.

General practitioner-centred care is particularly suitable for you if you have frequent contact with your general practitioner and value intensive care. This model may also be of interest if, in addition to regular visits to your GP practice, you often need to consult other specialists. In this case, it is easier if your general practitioner decides which further diagnostics and co-treatment are best for you and if coordination with specialists is required.

If, on the other hand, you prefer to decide for yourself whether to seek GP care first or go directly to a specialist, this model is not an ideal solution. The same applies if you know that you will soon change your GP practice – for example due to a move or a longer period of work-related absence.

If you participate in general practitioner-centred care, you always visit the general practitioner you trust and with whom you are enrolled first. You will only attend specialist appointments following a referral from your GP practice. This does not apply to gynaecological examinations, ophthalmologists, paediatricians, or, of course, emergencies. If your GP practice is closed due to holidays or illness, you can simply visit the designated substitute practice.

In return, your GP practice offers at least one extended consultation hour in the evening per week. As an SBK member with an appointment, your waiting time must not exceed 30 minutes.

To enrol in general practitioner-centred care, you sign a participation declaration at your GP practice. The prerequisite is that your GP practice participates in this model. Enrolment with this general practitioner is valid for at least twelve months. During this period, you may only change your GP practice for an important reason. Participation in general practitioner-centred care usually begins in the following quarter, provided you enrol at least two months before the start of the quarter.

Participation in general practitioner-centred care is voluntary. No one may pressure you to decide in favour of it. If you do not participate, you will not experience any disadvantages in your treatment.

You can withdraw your enrolment with your general practitioner in writing to SBK within two weeks of submitting the participation declaration, without giving reasons. After that, you are bound to the GP model for 12 months.

You can regularly cancel participation in the GP model in writing with a notice period of eight weeks:

Send your withdrawal or cancellation by post: here you will find our address and a prepaid envelope.

Alternatively, you can send an email to your personal consultant. You can find the contact details here.