As a professional, you are bound by medical (or other professional) confidentiality obligations – including during a video appointment. This article explains what that means conceptually, how MeetOne supports you technically, and what you can do yourself in your organization.

What confidentiality requires

Medical confidentiality (§ 203 of the German Criminal Code, StGB) requires you to protect participant secrets from unauthorized disclosure – regardless of whether treatment happens in person or by video. It applies not only to physicians, but to all professionals bound by confidentiality obligations, such as psychotherapists, midwives, or pharmacists.

A video appointment brings two layers together: the technical layer – who could access the conversation? – and the organizational layer – who could overhear or oversee it in your environment or your participant's? As a professional, you are responsible for both.

How MeetOne supports you

  • KBV certification: MeetOne is listed by the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KBV) as a certified video service. This certification reviews, among other things, requirements for data security, server locations, and encryption. See What is KBV certification? for more.
  • End-to-end encryption: Video, audio, chat, and shared screen content during your video appointment are transmitted end-to-end encrypted between you and your participant. MeetOne never has access to this content. See How does MeetOne protect my data? for more.
  • Server location: The data stored in MeetOne is processed and stored on servers in Germany and the European Union. See Where is my data stored? for more.
  • Data processing agreement (DPA): For you to involve MeetOne as a service provider under your confidentiality obligations, it must be contractually bound to confidentiality. A DPA (called "AVV" in German) documents this obligation, and your organization can request it directly in your account. See Request a data processing agreement (DPA) for more.

KBV certification applies to statutory-insurance medical care. Other professions, such as therapists, midwives, or pharmacists, are not bound by this specific certification, but remain subject to their own professional confidentiality obligations.

Practical tips for your organization

  • A private room: Hold your video appointment in a room where third parties can neither overhear nor see the screen. This applies at home too: a separate room with a closed door, not a kitchen table or open-plan office.
  • Headphones instead of speakers: Use headphones or a headset. Confidential conversation content is difficult to reliably protect over speakers, even behind a closed door.
  • Protect your screen: Position your screen so that colleagues, people in the waiting room, or passersby cannot see the video image or any participant records displayed on it.
  • Verify identity: At the start of the call, briefly confirm you are speaking with the right person, and check whether your participant can talk undisturbed and without anyone else in the room.

This article provides general orientation and does not replace individual legal advice. For questions about your specific situation, consult a law firm specializing in medical law or your professional chamber.

Still have questions? Contact us at support@meetone.io.