Kiel Pain Clinic and TK win ideas competitionpain-clinic-kiel-and-tk-win-ideas-competition1

Kiel, March 24, 2009. The Kiel Pain Clinic and the Techniker Krankenkasse (TK) took part in the competition together in Berlin yesterday (March 23rd).Health Economy Ideas Park 2009" been awarded. The Kiel care model for the treatment of chronic headaches is one of the ten award-winning healthcare offerings in Germany. The Financial Times Germany (FTD) searched for the ten most innovative companies, institutions and individuals from the entire healthcare sector. Goal of the competition is to make groundbreaking approaches known to a wider public and thus advance the debate about a better healthcare system.The TK and the Kiel Pain Clinic launched the first nationwide coordinated headache treatment network two years ago. Since then, more than 1,200 people with severe chronic headaches have been treated according to the holistic Kiel concept. “This care concept is a milestone for those affected – many are experiencing a life without headaches for the first time in many years,” says Professor Dr. Hartmut Göbel, director of the Kiel Pain Clinic. The nationwide concept was developed jointly by the partners Pain Clinic Kiel and TK. “For the first time, it enables nationwide, cross-sector networking of outpatient and inpatient headache therapy,” explains Dr. Johann Brunkhorst, head of the TK state representative in Schleswig-Holstein.


Nationwide, more than 400 regional pain therapists as well as inpatient pain therapists from the Kiel Pain Clinic work closely together. They treat according to current guidelines and the most modern scientific standards. The quality of the treatment is constantly improved through continuous scientific research and medical exchange. The sustainable cost efficiency is confirmed by analyzing the direct and indirect costs. Two years after its launch, almost all major health insurance companies have now joined the care project.

The concept has completely restructured widespread disease headache It is now also regarded by international experts as a model for effective pain therapy. “We are proud that our innovative care concept has now been recognized. This is proof of the performance of Schleswig-Holstein as a healthcare location,” said TK boss Brunkhorst. Both project partners want to further expand the concept. Among other things, special headache courses are to be offered for children and prevention programs are to be developed for students.

Headache Network Awarded Report Magazine for Pain Therapy 052009