[Beyond the bladder-a specialty rediscovering itself: Outpatient. Networked. Digital].

Abstract

Background: Urology is undergoing a fundamental transformation characterized by increasing outpatient care, digitalization, and cross-sectoral networking.

Objective: The aim of this review is to analyze current developments and to show how outpatient surgery, telemedicine structures, artificial intelligence (AI)-based decision support, and networked care models are transforming urological practice.

Materials and methods: Narrative review based on current literature and healthcare policy developments in Germany, particularly the introduction of hybrid-diagnosis-related groups (DRG).

Results: The introduction of hybrid-DRG from 2024 represents a healthcare policy turning point. Outpatient urological procedures show comparable outcomes to inpatient treatment with higher cost-efficiency when structured pathways are implemented. Telemedicine has been established as an integral tool, with hybrid care models meaningfully complementing personal physician-patient contact. AI systems achieve high diagnostic accuracies in urological imaging and increasingly support clinical decision-making. Patient-reported outcomes are gaining importance for patient-centered care. Central challenges remain balancing digital innovation with reduction of bureaucracy and ensuring data interoperability.

Conclusion: Urology is particularly well-positioned for transformation due to its technological affinity, standardizable processes, and established outpatient structures. The presented developments indicate that urology has the potential to become one of the pioneers of modern, hybrid, digitally supported patient care, provided that this transformation is actively shaped.