Nationwide migraine and headache treatment network in Berlin receives award
The Kiel Pain Clinic and the Techniker Krankenkasse (TK) health insurance company are setting nationwide standards in the care of migraine and headache patients. On Wednesday, March 28, both partners were first prize for healthcare networkers . Former State Secretary for Health Gudrun Schaich-Walch praised the commitment of the initiators, Prof. Dr. Hartmut Göbel of the Kiel Pain Clinic and Dr. Johann Brunkhorst, Head of the TK State Representation in Schleswig-Holstein, at a ceremony during the 7th Congress for Healthcare Networkers at Charité Berlin, Campus Virchow-Klinikum. The nationwide migraine and headache treatment network developed by the two was selected by the jury as the best implementation of an integrated care project in Germany. Key criteria for the award included high-quality medical care, proven benefits for patients, and the exemplary networking of previously separate specialized practices and clinics.
Migraines and other chronic headaches affect 54 million people in Germany. They are among the ten most debilitating conditions and the three most expensive neurological diseases. To overcome sectoral barriers and medical specialty boundaries, the nationwide headache treatment network was initiated five years ago. This created, for the first time, a coordinated nationwide healthcare system for migraine and headache patients in Germany. This represents a milestone for headache patient care. The concept enables, for the first time, nationwide, interdisciplinary networking of outpatient and inpatient therapy. Guaranteed patient benefit, seamless care, increased knowledge, improved information exchange among all involved parties, and collaborative work using clearly defined treatment pathways form the basis for modern and efficient treatment outcomes within the nationwide migraine and headache treatment network.
The concept includes orienting the range of services to the needs of patients, nationwide specialized cooperation of migraine and headache experts, telemedicine networking, services offered across different types of health insurance funds and independent of insurance companies, as well as the guarantee and assurance of a defined treatment success.
Implementation is carried out by a national network of outpatient and inpatient pain therapists in private practices and hospitals. Outpatient, rehabilitative, and inpatient therapies are closely coordinated and integrated throughout the treatment process. This unique care model allows for a comprehensive identification of the underlying mechanisms of headaches and the development of targeted therapy. Patients are actively involved, developing a better understanding of their condition and thus positively influencing the success of their treatment. For particularly severe cases, highly intensive, supraregional inpatient treatment is available at the Migraine and Headache Center of the Kiel Pain Clinic. The specialists at the Kiel Pain Clinic organize the network structures and procedures.
The accompanying scientific research demonstrates a high and lasting benefit for patients. This includes optimized treatment based on current scientific knowledge, specialized treatment pathways, an organized treatment chain, and continuous monitoring of progress and success. Patient satisfaction with the integrated care within the nationwide headache treatment network is very high. Long-term analysis shows that pain is sustainably relieved, quality of life is restored, the ability to work is reinstated, and costs are reduced.
Report in the Medical Journal;
Report on Combating Headaches
Report from the Schleswig-Holstein State Government
Download press release
Download press photo Dr. Brunkhorst and Prof. Göbel
Download press photo Health Networker Award 2012
Download overview paper
Link to article about the treatment network
Link to the conference program
The price for health networkers
A total of 116 projects applied, including 27 submissions in the "Idea" category and 89 projects already underway.
Criteria for awarding the prize:
- Networking of previously separate actors (cross-disciplinary and cross-sectoral approaches)
- Medical content based on current scientific knowledge (medical quality)
- Information exchange and communication (consideration of data protection, access to information, etc.)
- Intelligent processes (process quality)
- Easing of workload/Interesting new tasks for employees (Process quality from an employee perspective)
- Proven patient benefit (outcome quality, evaluation)
Who decided?
The jury consists of: Gudrun Schaich-Walch, former State Secretary, Prof. Dr. Volker Amelung (BMC), Prof. Dr. jur. Dr. med. Alexander Ehlers (Ehlers, Ehlers & Partner), Prof. Dr. hc Herbert Rebscher (DAK-Gesundheit), Dr. med. Veit Wambach (QuE eG; Praxisnetz Nürnberg Nord), Susanne Eble (Berlin-Chemie AG)
Dear Professor Göbel,
I warmly congratulate you on this important award! As a moderator of the Headbook http://www.headbook.me , I read almost daily the reports of our members who are treated by doctors who are partners in the nationwide migraine and headache network of the Kiel Pain Clinic.
They report short waiting times for appointments due to the network, excellent knowledge of the specialist doctors in the field of migraine and headache therapy, who treat according to the current guidelines and at a high scientific level, as well as successful follow-up treatment after an inpatient stay in the pain clinic resident pain therapists on site.
Integrated care has already proven itself very well in practice and patients, doctors and ultimately the insured community benefit from it, as enormous cost savings can be expected for our healthcare system in the long term.
Kind regards
Bettina Frank