[The position of the sociomedical expert in the Medical Services of German Statutory Sickness Insurance Bodies (MDK) as influenced by changing challenges].

The "Medical Services of the German Statutory Sickness Insurance Bodies (MDK)" is a non-profit organisation providing socio-medical specialist advice to the German Statutory Health and Nursing Care Insurances. Facing demographic changes as well as progress in medicine, highly qualified expertises and consultations are of increasing importance to manage the social security system and to continue to develop its structure. Sociomedical assignments of the MDK as applied health science is so far mainly related to individual aspects of insured persons (case management) but more and more to general aspects such as quality, consumer protection, efficiency, guiding concepts and organisation of the health care system. Based on its widespread experience, profound knowledge and confidence in its expertise the MDK is aware of its great sociopolitical responsibility and faces the wide range of assignments with regard to personneldevelopment and organisational innovations. Identification with principles of genuine medical practice, creating a modern job profile, and exercising creative power in accordance with the fundamental social legislation. This characterises the self-image and roleperception of medical experts of the MDK.