German
Telemedicine strengthens healthcare in rural areas: Crossen benefits from support from Jena
How can medical care work well even when doctors' surgeries are far away or journeys are difficult? The telemedicine room of the Smart City Jena project offers an answer to this question. The aim is to make modern healthcare digitally and personally accessible - for both urban and rural areas.
The first telemedicine room was opened in 2024 in the smart district of Jena-Lobeda. It is part of the city of Jena's Smart City project and was implemented in cooperation with Stadtwerke Jena. Launched in the immediate vicinity of the University Hospital, the telemedicine room serves as a pilot project to test new approaches to medical care. Citizens can receive medical advice via video in a protected, low-barrier environment - accompanied by trained staff on site.
The experience so far has been very positive: initial feedback shows that the combination of modern technology and personal support has been very well received. The first pilot applications took place in 2024, including treatments for facial nerve paralysis. GP, dermatology and surgical consultations have also been offered since May 2025. The telemedicine room is thus making an innovative contribution to healthcare that reaches everyone.
These positive experiences are now to be transferred to the region. One concrete example is the municipality of Crossen an der Elster, which would like to set up a telemedicine room together with Jena. A cooperation agreement is currently being drawn up to regulate the collaboration in a binding manner. The aim is to start implementing the agreement as soon as possible and make the service available locally - especially for older people and those with limited mobility.
Interest in the telemedicine room continues to grow: another municipality has already expressed its interest in also becoming part of the project. A cooperation agreement is also being prepared here. Step by step, a regional network is being created that shows how digital solutions can sustainably strengthen medical care.
In the long term, the Smart City Jena project aims to establish the telemedicine room in rural regions following successful trials, thereby improving access to medical care across the board - for a liveable, networked and sustainable region.