In Germany, every medical practitioner who wants to practice as a physician must specialize. This specialization is necessary to obtain the authorization to establish a private practice as a contract physician or to work in a medical facility. Those who choose not to pursue specialized training remain doctors in training. While there are other avenues within the field of medicine, specializing is essential for the direct treatment of patients and diseases.
However, there are exceptions and special cases where individuals without specialized training can work as doctors in Germany. This includes roles such as emergency physicians and doctors in research or teaching. These exceptions are subject to specific rules and requirements.
One option is to open a private practice without a specialization. Many medical professionals seek alternatives to the stressful hospital environment. However, for assistant doctors without a specialist title, the goal of owning their own practice seems unattainable, especially as contract physicians usually require specialized training for participation.
In addition to the traditional contract-based practices, there is also the concept of a private medical practice. Unlike contract-based practices, private practices cater to private health insurance holders and self-pay patients. This provides private practices with several privileges, including the ability to choose their patient base and more time for each patient without the constraints of contract-based care. There are also fewer regulations imposed by the medical association.
Private practices are not limited to private patients but also serve a substantial portion of self-pay patients who are covered by public health insurance. Private practices, depending on the medical field, often require less extensive equipment, resulting in manageable investments. This makes private practice financially viable in a relatively short period. Furthermore, it's possible to work as a private doctor without a physical practice or as a doctor in a home office, making it an ideal side job for assistant doctors.
Finding staff for a private practice is relatively straightforward due to the smaller patient volume. In many cases, only one office assistant is required, if at all. Some doctors even manage their own appointments, and external service providers handle office communication, accounting, and payment processing.
Some assistant doctors who choose not to specialize bring additional qualifications with them that do not require a completed specialized training. Private practices in these cases typically focus on areas like nutritional medicine, alternative medicine, or acupuncture. The current regulations may limit the available specialties, but fields such as osteopathy, traditional Chinese medicine, and aesthetic medicine are often found in private practice offerings. Even as a private general practitioner, you can practice without a specialization. Specialization is not always mandatory. You can treat musculoskeletal pain in office workers, provide nutritional counseling for underweight individuals, or offer yoga exercises for pregnant women in their last trimester.
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