Berlin – Katharina Graffmann-Weschke will take over as the second member of the board as of today, July 1st Foundation for Independent Patient Counseling Germany (UPD). The foundation announced this today.
“With Mrs. Graffmann-Weschke, the management team is finally complete,” said the federal government’s patient representative and chairman of the foundation’s board, Stefan Schwartze (SPD). It is now even more important to roll up our sleeves and implement the legal mandate of the counseling service.
Graffmann-Weschke most recently worked – from June 2022 to June 2024 – as a coordinator for safe care at the State Criminal Police Office (LKA) in Berlin, where she set up the project “Violence in Care”. From 2016, she worked at AOK Nordost, where she initially headed the AOK Nursing Academy and later served as interim head of supply management at the health insurer.
Graffmann-Weschke originally worked as a pediatric surgeon. She is a trained nurse and, in addition to medicine, also studied public health.
“The next phase of expansion of the UPD Foundation offers the unique opportunity to establish a long-term, trust-building and guiding consultancy service for healthcare in Germany,” Graffmann-Weschke said in a statement today.
The board of directors therefore plans to work closely with local organisations and networks. “For the well-being of those seeking advice, we have to create new networks and increase potential. This also includes the close integration of established organisations and their local offerings,” explained Graffmann-Weschke.
A lot of work awaits the two new members of the foundation’s board. To date, the UPD has not functioned as intended by the legislator. The consultancy service was launched on May 6th at a very reduced price.. The first regional counseling centers are scheduled to open in the second half of the year. © may/bee/aerzteblatt.de