Henrike Markstein returns: Dental practice in Wildenfels is being revitalized!

Henrike Markstein returns: Dental practice in Wildenfels is being revitalized!

After 20 years in exile in Franconia, Henrike Markstein returns to her roots and takes over her mother's dental practice in Wildenfels. From January she will manage the practice on Karl-Marx-Straße, which has been closed since mid-May due to severe damage. “I always wanted to come back,” says the returnee with determination. Her mother, Karin Suchomel, has run the practice with a lot of passion since 1992.

The condition of the dental practice is worrying: only the roof and some external and important internal walls are still intact. Henrike Markstein is planning extensive renovations to bring the practice back into shape. This is particularly important given the current situation in the region, which is characterized by an impending shortage of dentists.

Supply situation in the region

The discussion about medical care is a hot topic in this country. The associations of statutory health insurance physicians are currently working together with health insurance companies to create requirement plans in order to ensure care in statutory health insurance. According to the specifications of the Federal Joint Committee (GBA), the ratio of contracted doctors to the number of residents in the respective planning area should be taken into account when planning. Changes in demand planning may be necessary to take regional characteristics into account, such as demographic developments or the morbidity structure of the population.

In the context of the current problem, it becomes clear that there is an undersupply when the level of care provided by general practitioners or specialized specialists is significantly below what is needed. The Statutory Health Insurance Care Strengthening Act of 2015 provides the framework for actively counteracting such developments. Statutory (dental) medical associations are obliged to ensure statutory health care, which also includes dental practices.

The challenge of opening a practice

For Henrike Markstein, taking over from her mother will be a big challenge. In addition to the renovation work, she also has to familiarize herself with the latest developments in the area of ​​demand planning in order to optimally design her future patient care. The preparations are therefore not only of a technical nature, but also strategically important in order to meet the high requirements of the supply guidelines.

Henrike Markstein's return could be a ray of hope not only for the family, but also for the entire region. Her commitment to dental practice and efforts to close the care gap make her an important player in the local healthcare landscape. “I’m looking forward to being here again and offering the people of Wildenfels dental care that they can rely on,” she says optimistically.

We can only hope that her return and the planned renovation of the practice not only ensure dental care in Wildenfels, but also give others like her the courage to return to their origins.

Further information about requirements planning and specifications can be found at AOK and G-BA.