If you have common symptoms such as headache and fever, you can see a general practitioner (Allgemeinarzt) or a family doctor (Haus? Rzte). General practitioners/family doctors can deal with common diseases, and when necessary, they will refer patients to corresponding specialists or arrange patients to be hospitalized. Many Germans will choose a doctor as their regular family doctor, and they will go to see a family doctor first when they are sick. You can also go directly to the specialist. Specialist (Fach? Rzte) refers to ophthalmologists, otolaryngologists, obstetricians and gynecologists, cardiologists, orthopedic surgeons and other doctors who treat diseases in specific fields. In Germany, specialists can go directly to specialist clinics and generally do not need family doctors to refer them. For example, if a child is sick, he can go directly to a pediatrician. There are many specialist clinics in Germany, so it is convenient to make an appointment for a specialist, and patients can choose their doctors freely. However, there are few specialist clinics in German hospitals, which mainly diagnose and treat complicated and rare incurable diseases. If there is complicated comprehensive examination, surgery, physical therapy, or observation, hospitalization, first aid, etc. You can take the doctor's diagnosis to the hospital for treatment. The hospital is not responsible for the initial diagnosis.
Author: Di Ji Laojiu
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2. Precautions for making an appointment to see a doctor in Germany
Generally, you have to make an appointment to do anything in Germany, and seeing a doctor is no exception. Clinics generally need to make an appointment with Termin by phone in advance. If they are really in a hurry, they can just queue up at the clinic. As soon as the doctors are free, they can arrange a visit immediately. But check the business hours in advance.
3. How to see a doctor in Germany?
Be sure to bring your insurance card when you go to the clinic (both public and private insurance companies have it). If you don't bring your insurance card, you are likely to make a trip in vain or pay a high outpatient fee. When you arrive at the clinic, give your card to the front desk nurse so that they can register the medical history and other information on your insurance card.
If this is your first visit to this clinic, you need to fill out a form, usually about medical history and allergy history. After that, you usually have to wait in the waiting room, sometimes for a long time. .
When you see a doctor, try to describe your symptoms to the doctor comprehensively and clearly. It's best to find out all the words you don't know at home to avoid misunderstanding in diagnosis. You can communicate with doctors in German and English. German doctors have a high level of English, especially technical terms. After seeing a doctor, the doctor will write a prescription and tell you the treatment plan for some time to come. If you need a follow-up visit, you can make an appointment with the doctor's secretary when you come out. If not, just say goodbye to her.
4. Description of medical expenses in Germany
Patients who participate in public medical insurance usually need to show their medical insurance cards to prove that you have legal insurance coverage when they go to clinics and hospitals. In this way, the hospital or clinic will send the bill directly to the insurance company for settlement, so that individuals do not need to pay any more, or only need to pay a small amount of out-of-pocket expenses borne by individuals. So don't be afraid to spend money and see a doctor.
When you use private medical insurance to see a doctor, you usually have to pay for the medical expenses yourself first, and then apply to the insurance company for reimbursement. Therefore, after seeing a doctor, you must keep the receipt and various medical certificates. Some private insurance can also be settled by sending the bill directly to the insurance company by the hospital outpatient department, and individuals do not have to pay for it themselves. The amount of reimbursement should be based on the provisions of the private medical insurance plan you participate in.
5. Take the prescription to the drugstore to buy medicine.
In Germany, only pharmacies can sell medicines. The pharmacy in Germany is called Apotheke. Marked by a big red cross. Drugs are divided into prescription drugs and over-the-counter drugs. Germany has a strict drug law, and many drugs, such as antibacterial drugs, can only be purchased with a doctor's prescription (Rezept). The list of prescription drugs is generally red and the list of over-the-counter drugs is blue. If you buy legal medical insurance, you usually only need to pay 5 to 10 euros for prescription drugs, and the rest will be paid by legal medical insurance. But over-the-counter drugs must pay the full cost.
If you buy private insurance, you usually need to pay for the medicine first, and then take the receipt to the insurance company for reimbursement. The reimbursement ratio varies according to different insurance schemes, some can be reimbursed in full, and some need to pay part of the drug expenses themselves.
6. Emergency treatment
If you encounter an emergency during the holiday, you can call the emergency number 1 12, or go to the nearby hospital to see the emergency immediately (Notaufnahme). There are doctors on duty in general hospitals. Xiao Yuan went to the school hospital for emergency treatment before getting sick and allergic. It's convenient without an appointment. Every city has pharmacies that take turns to watch the door on holidays, but you need to check the address of the pharmacy online.