Better healthcare for northern Saxony-Anhalt
Magdeburg research network investigates how scientific findings can reach patients more quickly – model region in northern Saxony-Anhalt.
New research findings are only helpful if they are applied in everyday life. This is precisely where the new research network “Implementation Research Saxony-Anhalt” (ISA) at Magdeburg University Hospital comes in. The aim is to systematically transfer scientifically proven improvements in medical and psychosocial care into practice and to develop strategies for structurally weak regions. Northern Saxony-Anhalt serves as a model region for rural care areas in Germany.
Why new approaches to care are needed
Saxony-Anhalt faces particular challenges: in 2024, the average age of the population was 48.2 years, the highest of all 16 federal states. At the same time, the average life expectancy is around 82 years for women and 76 years for men. Demographic developments are increasing the demand for medical and psychosocial care. At the same time, there are structural challenges: in some rural regions, trips to specialized medical facilities take more than half an hour. In addition, there is an estimated investment requirement of around 146.6 million euros annually for hospitals.
The ISA research network therefore wants to find ways to successfully implement proven measures—such as clear treatment procedures or digital support—in practice. The Institute for Social Medicine and Health System Research at Otto von Guericke University and the University Clinic for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy at Magdeburg University Medical Center are working together on this.
"There are many scientifically proven approaches that can improve care. Our goal is to understand why they are not being used optimally and how we can facilitate their application in practice,“ says Institute Director Prof. Dr. Dr. Christian Apfelbacher.
Clinic Director Prof. Dr. Florian Junne adds: ”In the field of mental health in particular, digital support can help to break down barriers and enable feedback in everyday life. We are examining how such services can be meaningfully integrated into standard care."
Photo: The team of the interdisciplinary research network “Implementation Research Saxony-Anhalt” (ISA) at Magdeburg University Hospital. Photographer: private
Three projects – from emergency care to mental health
The research network combines three focal points that address different areas of care:
- Subproject A – Emergency and intensive care medicine: This subproject examines how recommended treatment standards are implemented in hospitals, e.g., the nationwide medication plan for better coordination of drugs, uniform dietary levels for people with swallowing disorders (dysphagia), combined nutrition and exercise therapy for patients with chronic advanced liver disease and sarcopenia, and the recommended diagnostic procedures for acute confusion (delirium) in older patients in emergency rooms.
- Subproject B – Psychosomatic medicine: The implementation of support services for mental and psychosocial complaints is being investigated, including suicide prevention measures, digital specialist advice via video (teleconsultation), and electronic diaries in which those affected can document stigmatization, heat-related complaints, or protective behavior, for example.
- Subproject C – Rural Cohort Saxony-Anhalt (LäKoSA): A population survey will be conducted over a longer period of time to determine how people aged 40 and older in northern Saxony-Anhalt perceive medical care and what their needs are. Repeated surveys will provide a picture of gaps in care, utilization, and regional characteristics.
The data on the level of care will be made available on interactive maps. The team is also developing a cross-network measurement tool to assess the willingness of healthcare professionals to introduce new procedures. At the same time, a study is being conducted on the use of electronic patient reports (ePROMs), i.e., structured feedback from patients on their state of health, which can be incorporated into medical decisions.
Significance for patients and the healthcare system
The introduction of new scientific findings in diagnostics and treatment sometimes encounters obstacles in practice. Training, technical equipment, or suitable data protection solutions are often required. This is where the ISA network's research comes in, making a decisive contribution: it systematically examines needs and obstacles to implementation and, based on this, develops strategies that support institutions in introducing new procedures or standards in a practical manner. This enables medical care to be provided on the basis of the latest scientific findings.
Patients benefit from high-quality, tailored treatment and improved support services for mental health issues. At the same time, this helps to better adapt medical services to regional needs and strengthen the healthcare system as a whole in the long term.
The network is funded by the European Union (EFRE Saxony-Anhalt).
Further information is available at www.isa-ummd.de.
Contact
PD Dr. rer. nat. Jasmin M. Kizilirmak, Project Coordinator, “Implementation Research Saxony-Anhalt” (ISA), Institute for Social Medicine and Health System Research, Tel.: +49-391-67-24328, isa@med.ovgu.de