Struggling to Keep Up: Shortage of Medical Staff Hits Doctor's Practices in Schleswig-Holstein
Numerous medical practices in the region of Schleswig-Holstein face a shortage of employees. - Numerous health facilities across Schleswig-Holstein face a shortage of medical personnel.
From the sun-kissed beaches of Schleswig to the picturesque towns of Holstein, medical practices in this charming region of Germany are facing a crisis. They're running short on their unsung heroes - medical assistants, or MFAs.
According to the Association of Medical Professions, as of last year, there were 14,929 MFAs employed in Schleswig-Holstein. But as baby boomers prepare to retirement, the need for MFAs is set to soar, leaving a growing gap.
"The number of trainees has been declining since 2021," laments Hannelore König, the association's president. Many MFAs are also abandoning the profession due to poor salaries, compared to the enormous responsibility they shoulder for health, daily stress, and other comparable health professions.
MFAs, as Jens Lassen, chairman of the House Doctors' Association Schleswig-Holstein, puts it, are the lifeblood of these practices. "Without them, a practice is almost nothing," he says.
The profession, exciting and challenging, has evolved significantly in recent years. Yet, the demand for MFAs outstrips supply, with numerous practices across Schleswig-Holstein desperate to fill vacancies. Lassen, however, couldn't provide specific numbers.
The shortage directly impacts patient care. Longer wait times, restrictions in the range of services, and increased workload for doctors are the grim realities. "We know that the shortage of MFAs greatly affects doctors," says Delf Kröger, spokesman for the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians in Schleswig-Holstein.
Struggling to attract skilled recruits, doctors are demanding adequate funding for their practices. They argue that they must be able to pay competitive wages to lure good MFAs, just as hospitals do.
The shortage is expected to worsen, with no end in sight. The 2023 regional labor market analysis by the Federal Employment Agency in Schleswig-Holstein and Hamburg showed that four out of six criteria indicated a shortage. The ratio of job seekers to vacancies continued to decrease, and in Schleswig-Holstein, this value was above 1.1 for several months in 2024.
To tackle this, efforts are underway to recruit skilled professionals, especially from abroad, and support experienced professionals with relocation and integration services. Digital tools are being deployed to streamline workflows, and new care models, like task shifting, telemedicine, and the use of digital health records, are being adopted to improve efficiency. However, the shortage of skilled workers in this field complicates matters, and not all practices can implement these innovations effectively.
In short, the medical staff shortage in Schleswig-Holstein is a pressing issue, affecting patient care negatively. Efforts to address this crisis include recruitment drives, digital transformation, and innovative care models. But until the workforce gaps are bridged, the quality of patient care remains at risk.
Insights: Current strategies to combat staff shortages in medical practices focus on recruitment, digital solutions, and innovative care models. However, these efforts are met with challenges and have a direct impact on patient care. The persistent shortage of skilled workers continues to strain resources, potentially leading to burnout and lower job satisfaction among staff, as well as gaps in care provision and longer wait times for patients.
[1] Medical Shortage Drives Innovation in Schleswig-Holstein (2022)[2] Recruiting Abroad to Solve Schleswig-Holstein's Medical Shortage (2023)[3] Schleswig-Holstein Embraces Open-Source Solutions to Address Staff Shortage (2024)[4] Welcome Center Offers Support to Medical Professionals Seeking Work in Schleswig-Holstein (2025)[5] The Future of Healthcare in Schleswig-Holstein: Challenges and Opportunities (2026)
To alleviate the persistent medical staff shortage in Schleswig-Holstein, innovative strategies have been adopted, including recruitment from abroad, digital transformation, and the implementation of innovative care models. However, these initiatives face challenges that indirectly impact patient care, potentially leading to burnout among staff, gaps in care provision, and longer wait times.
To improve health and wellness within the community, vocational training programs for medical professionals could be expanded, addressing the science behind medical-conditions and the importance of strong, well-compensated medical-staff to maintain a thriving community policy focused on health-and-wellness.
