Successful Implementation of Pilot Health Kiosk in Solingen
In the heart of Solingen, Germany, a unique community facility named the Health Kiosk has been making a significant impact since its opening in October 2023. This innovative service point, a collaborative effort between the city of Solingen, solimed, the AOK Rheinland/Hamburg, and the Bergische health insurance company, is designed to provide accessible health information, basic health services, and social support to local residents.
The Health Kiosk has become a low-threshold access point for health advice, preventive care, and connecting people with appropriate social and medical services. Over 1,500 individuals have been advised and supported since its inception, with a large majority hailing from the city districts Mitte and Nordstadt.
The Health Kiosk team consists of experts from health and nursing care, health management, and public health. Their outstanding work is praised by Sabine Stamm, board member of the Bergische health insurance company, who notes it as an example of successful social responsibility and joint action. Matthias Mohrmann, deputy chairman of the AOK Rheinland/Hamburg, also commends the team's efforts, emphasising the value of their work in promoting health literacy and autonomy.
In addition to individual advice, the Health Kiosk offers workshops and information events on a variety of health topics. Its multicultural composition allows the team to hold consultations in various languages, ensuring that the service is accessible to all residents of Solingen.
The Health Kiosk is also equipped to help people without health insurance or with unclear insurance status. This inclusive approach ensures that no one is left behind in their pursuit of better health and wellbeing.
The AOK Rheinland/Hamburg serves as the main funder of the Health Kiosk project, with the Bergische health insurance company and the city of Solingen also involved. The collaboration between these organisations demonstrates the value of thinking unconventionally, as highlighted by Jan Welzel, a councilor in Solingen.
Mark Kuypers, managing director of solimed, states that the Health Kiosk is a valuable, complementary consultation offer for the regional health care. Its success at the New Year's reception, where it was invited as a guest, is a testament to its importance in the community.
The Health Kiosk in Solingen continues to be a focal point for promoting health literacy and autonomy, offering individual support, workshops, and information events on health topics. Its contributions to improving public health and social cohesion are undeniable, making it an invaluable resource for the city and its residents.
- The Health Kiosk in Solingen, established in collaboration with solimed, AOK Rheinland/Hamburg, and the Bergische health insurance company, offers a variety of health-related services, including fitness-and-exercise programs, therapies-and-treatments, and nutrition consultations.
- A key aspect of the Health Kiosk's work is mental-health support, providing accessible advice and resources to help local residents prioritize their mental wellbeing alongside physical health.
- The team at the Health Kiosk consists of experts from science and health-and-wellness fields, such as health management and public health, who work tirelessly to promote health literacy within the community.
- The Health Kiosk caters to the needs of all Solingen residents, including those without health insurance or with unclear insurance status, ensuring that workplace-wellness resources are accessible to everyone, regardless of their healthcare coverage under Medicare or other plans.
