German Nursing Homes Tap Digital System to Streamline Admissions as Sector Faces Record Sick Leave and Funding Gap

A FHIR-based digital platform cuts admin work in 218 German nursing homes. Training programs boost completion, but sector faces 22.5 billion euro funding gap and high sick leave.

A digital platform that automatically transfers patient inquiries from hospitals into nursing home management systems has been rolled out across 218 facilities operated by Korian and the Verbund Pflegehilfe network. The FHIR-based integration eliminates media breaks and reduces administrative burden, freeing staff for direct care. The initiative is one of several efforts to improve working conditions in a sector grappling with record sick leave and a looming 22.5-billion-euro funding gap.

Training programs show measurable results

In Saxony-Anhalt, a state program called “Assistierte Pflegehilfe” has supported over 2,100 trainees in five years. Completion rates jumped from 50 to 74 percent, and the number of international applicants surged 70 percent to 81 people. The program has been extended through 2028, with funded slots rising from 510 to 610. A nationwide standardized nursing assistant training is planned for 2027.

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Even as providers invest in recruitment and training, the high sick days among care staff underline the need for robust workplace safety practices. Many organisations lack the proper risk assessments and documentation to identify hazards before they cause harm — leaving them exposed to costly incidents and penalties. A free Health & Safety Toolkit provides ready-to-use templates, checklists and toolbox talks designed to close those gaps. Download the free Health & Safety Toolkit

Hessen launched its own campaign in June 2026, “mach’s machbar!”, to recruit staff for integration assistance through practice-integrated training.

Prevention starts early

A project called “Gesundes Onboarding in der Pflege” (Healthy Onboarding in Nursing) was launched in spring 2025 by AOK Bayern and Allensbach University. It aims to better integrate new nursing staff and keep them healthy long-term through sleep management and resilience training. A pilot phase is set for 2026, with full rollout planned for 2027. The structured induction period is intended to reduce both turnover and sick leave.

Sick leave stats underscore urgency

An analysis by Techniker Krankenkasse for 2024 found that nursing staff averaged 28.5 sick days, far above the national average of 18.2. Geriatric nursing was hardest hit at 33.1 days, followed by hospital nursing at 26.7. The main causes: psychological illnesses, respiratory infections, and musculoskeletal disorders.

Wages rise, but funding remains precarious

Thanks to mandatory collective bargaining, wages in long-term care rose nominally between 17 and 22 percent from 2022 to 2024, according to an evaluation for the Federal Ministry of Health. By 2024, skilled nursing staff in inpatient facilities earned an average of 24.20 euros per hour, while assistants earned up to 18.80 euros. The pay gap with hospital nurses has halved.

Effective July 1, 2026, the minimum wage for nursing assistants will rise to 16.52 euros, and for skilled staff to 21.03 euros. Another adjustment is planned for mid-2027.

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With budgets under strain, every preventable workplace injury and sick day adds to the financial pressure on care providers. Staying compliant with health and safety regulations is one of the most effective ways to protect both staff and the bottom line. A comprehensive free toolkit — already trusted by over 37,000 UK businesses — covers everything from risk assessments to fire safety and COSHH, all aligned with current legal duties. Download the free Health & Safety Toolkit

Yet the sector faces massive financial strain. The proposed Nursing Reorganization Act (PNOG) aims to close a gap of roughly 22.5 billion euros. Draft measures from Health Minister Warken include higher contributions for childless individuals and an increase in the contribution assessment ceiling.

Critics warn against planned cuts to pension insurance contributions for caregiving relatives. A proposed suspension of collective bargaining alignment until end of 2031 has also sparked debate, with experts warning of negative effects on the labor market.