Outpatient Research - Connected Thinking: New Impulses for Research in General Practice

How the collaborative partnership between university medical research and general practice can succeed was presented at the DESAM-ForNet Future Symposium "Outpatient Research – Connected Thinking" in Berlin at the end of November 2022. Participants experienced an intensive dialogue about what has been achieved so far and the challenges to be met in the coming years to expand the general practice research infrastructure nationwide and sustainably.

The DESAM-ForNet initiative is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research from 2020 to 2025 and consists of six regional research practice networks and a coordinating office. The coordinating office is a project of the German Foundation for General Medicine and Family Medicine (DESAM), which belongs to the German Society of General Medicine and Family Medicine (DEGAM). Another project partner is the Technology and Methods Platform for Networked Medical Research (TMF), which brings extensive experience in building research data infrastructures and coordinates initiatives such as the Medical Informatics Initiative (MII).

Great Opportunity for General Medicine

"We look forward to the unique opportunities and prospects that we have with the DESAM-ForNet initiative. This is not only an opportunity for general medicine but also for university medicine and the healthcare of patients, who will benefit from the results," explains Prof. Dr. med. Ferdinand M. Gerlach, German Foundation for General Medicine and Family Medicine (DESAM) Chairman. Prof. Dr. med. Jutta Bleidorn, member of the DESAM Foundation Board, adds: "Research for evidence and quality, jointly conducted at university clinics and in general practices – this is necessary to provide comprehensive care to the general population at all levels."

Dr. med. Leonor Heinz, Head of the DESAM-ForNet Coordination Office in Berlin, also highlights the future potential of the general practice research infrastructure: "Previously, it was assumed that research should only be conducted at university clinics, and this knowledge would then reach general practice with latency. Not only since the pandemic but since then, we know that this doesn't work. Only through research with general practices and only with data close to care can we create decision-making foundations for sustainable medical care."

The beginning of a joint research infrastructure has been made: Nationwide, six research practice networks now collaborate closely with general practices at 25 university institutes within DESAM-ForNet. This includes, among other things, joint structures for knowledge transfer, data exchange and protection, qualification concepts, and IT infrastructures. "In two years of funding, we have achieved a lot together with the participating networks. Nevertheless, there is still much to be done: To solidify the network, the framework conditions for research in everyday care must become more practical – only then can we succeed in recruiting significantly more research practices for the structure. Furthermore, harmonizing different standards remains a real obstacle," says Leonor Heinz.

These and other challenges were also discussed at the event: "In digitization, we are behind in Germany by around 15 years. To provide patients with the best possible care, we must exchange treatment-relevant data, for example, between clinics and practices, uncomplicatedly and make them available for public-spirited research in the future," demanded Ferdinand Gerlach. As a conclusion for the high demands on research in general practice, Jutta Bleidorn summarized: "General practice research must be cross-sectoral, interdisciplinary, digitally networked, and interprofessional. In addition, patients and the entire team must be involved in the general practice. Only in this way can research have a sustainable impact."

Press Contact

Dr. med. Leonor Heinz, Head of DESAM-ForNet Coordination Office
Schumannstr. 9, 10117 Berlin
Phone: 030 – 20 966 98 26
E-mail: koordinierung@desam-fornet.de

About the Initiative of German Research Practices Networks

In 2020, general practice research practice networks and a coordination office in Berlin merged to form the "Initiative of German Research Practices Networks (DESAM-ForNet)" to establish a nationwide research infrastructure in the general practice setting. So far, six research practice networks with 25 university locations and the coordination office are involved. From 2020 to 2025, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research is funding the initiative.