Crossen Is Leading the Way: Telemedicine Center Aims to Strengthen Local Healthcare

In Crossen an der Elster, a forward-looking project is taking shape: A telemedicine room is set to help improve medical care in rural areas in the future. The project is being developed in collaboration with local residents and builds on experiences from the Jena-Lobeda Smart Neighborhood, a subproject of the Jena Smart City initiative.

During the public dialogue on Wednesday, April 29, 2025, at the clubhouse, participants engaged in an in-depth discussion about how digital medicine can work in practice in Crossen. About 30 participants—including residents, family doctors, the local pharmacy, and representatives from politics and the healthcare sector—shared their perspectives, expectations, and questions. Particular focus was placed on the needs of older adults aged 60 and older, who are expected to be an important user group for the telemedicine center in the future.

For the Smart City Team of the City of Jena, this participatory process is a crucial building block. Subproject Manager Olivia Busch emphasizes: “We’re not developing a service here without taking people into account. The telemedicine room is being created in collaboration with the residents of Crossen—with their questions, their experiences, and their everyday lives in mind. That’s exactly what’s important to ensure that the solution not only works technically later on, but is also actually used.”

The results so far also show that the project is gaining momentum. Several specialists are already firmly on board, including an orthopedist and a cardiologist. 

Mayor Herbert Zimmermann sees this as an important step for the region: “We’ve succeeded in attracting specialists who are fully committed to the project. This sends a strong signal for Crossen and for medical care in rural areas.”

In the future, the telemedicine room will enable video consultations with doctors, supported by medical staff on site. This will allow for examinations, the prescribing of medications, or the issuance of referrals—without patients having to travel long distances. At the same time, one thing remains clear: In cases of acute symptoms or complex examinations, a traditional doctor’s visit—for example, in Eisenberg—will still be necessary.

The need in Crossen is clearly evident. Since the long-time family doctor retired two years ago, many residents have lacked a local medical point of contact. For patients, this means longer travel distances and less direct care. The telemedicine room cannot completely fill this gap in care, but it can provide targeted relief and facilitate access to medical consultation.

Project manager Mandy Steinbrück from Jenergie makes it clear that while the experiences from Jena-Lobeda form an important foundation, the implementation in Crossen must be conceived independently: “We draw on proven approaches, but we don’t apply them one-to-one. The solutions are developed right here on the ground—tailored to the everyday realities of the people in Crossen.”

The community dialogue revealed a clear trend: initial skepticism toward digital medicine is giving way to growing interest and openness. Many questions were addressed directly—such as those regarding on-site care, technical equipment, and the types of medical issues for which the telemedicine room is suitable.

If everything goes according to plan, the first patient is expected to be treated in the new telemedicine room in Crossen in the fall of 2026. This could make Crossen an important example of how digital solutions can effectively complement medical care in rural areas.