Dear CoRe-Net members,
dear Sir or Madam,
we are very pleased to inform you in our eighth CoRe-Net newsletter about news concerning CoRe-Net – a competence network connecting scientific practice and research in Cologne.
This is supplemented by dates from the area of health services research as well as current research funding announcements.
If you are looking for cooperation partners or methodological advice, please feel free to contact us.
For further information on CoRe-Net, please visit our English website.
Since February 2021, we are pleased to welcome the Health Literacy Network Germany as a new member of CoRe-Net.
We are looking forward to our collaboration!
An overview of the CoRe-Net members can be found here.
2. Working group in CoRe-Net
As a follow-up to our general assembly on December 09, 2020, the working group “Patient-oriented Intersectoral Health Care” was founded.
The first meeting took place on June 24th, 2021. During this meeting, a (deputy) leader was elected and initial goals and work methods were discussed.
>> leader: Dr. Thomas Joist
>> deputy leader: Vera Vennedey
The interdisciplinary working group addresses scientists, health care providers, patient representatives as well as payers and the city of cologne.
In the future, the meetings will take place once a quarter in virtual form.
3. Launch of the 1st CoRe-Net Supply Report
On August 16th, 2021, our 1st CoRe-Net Supply Report was presented at a digital launch event.
The report includes topics such as communication about the finite nature of life, the desired place of death and decisions about complex care needs. It also derives recommendations for action.
Read more:
>> Press Release (german language)
>> 1st CoRe-Net Supply Report
4. Look Back
4.1 2020: The year in review
In January 2021, at the start of the new year, we summarized the events of 2020 for you and provided an outlook for 2021.
The focus here was on the conclusion of the first funding phase and the start of the second funding phase.
Read more about the content of the project work and about our events in the second half of 2020.
On February 18th, our first CoRe-Net Career Day took place. The event was organised in cooperation with the Center for Health Services Research Cologne (ZVFK).
Like many of our events, the Career Day was conducted digitally due to the Covid 19 pandemic. We are pleased about the great interest in the event – a total of 58 persons participated via the Zoom platform and received an overview into the various fields of work from research and development in healthcare through the 14 speakers.
Read more about the event.
4.3 CoRe-Net Methods forum 2021
On March 22th, our digital methods forum on “Qualitative Research Methods” was organised in cooperation with the Center for Health Services Research Cologne (ZVFK).
Three workshops were offered on the following topics:
>> Qualitative research methods
>> Working with MAXQDA
>> Assessment of evidence from qualitative systematic reviews with GRADE-CERQual
We would like to thank the three speakers, Supply Prof. Dr. Ute Karbach, Dr. Kerstin Kremeike and Angélique Herrler, as well as the participants for the exciting contributions and the lively exchange during the methods forum.
Read more about the contents and the course of the event.
4.4 COVID – Research at the University of Cologne
On three evenings in May (12th, 19th and 26th) our digital event series “COVID – Research at the University of Cologne” took place in cooperation with the Center for Health Services Research Cologne (ZVFK).
The three themed evenings “Nursing and school life in pandemic times”, “Social effects of the pandemic” and “Medical sectors in the pandemic” gave an overview into the research projects of the University of Cologne in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic for all interested citizens.
The presentations were recorded and are available for all interested parties on the YouTube channel of the University of Cologne (german language).
Read more about the detailed review, the information brochure and the recorded contributions.
4.5 Academy for young researchers
On June 25th, the “Academy for Young Researchers” was organised in cooperation with the Center for Health Services Research Cologne (ZVFK).
Topic of the event: “Support for the application process”.
The lectures were held by:
>> Dr. Nadine Scholten (Institute for Medical Sociology, Health Services Research and Re-
habilitation Science (IMVR), University of Cologne)
>> Dr. Dr. Julia Strupp (Center for Palliative Medicine, University Hospital Cologne)
We would like to thank all participants as well as the two speakers for this exciting workshop and the interesting exchange within the academy.
Read more about the event.
4.6 Launch Event – Supply Report
On August 16th our 1st CoRe-Net Supply Report was presented at a digital launch event.
We would like to thank all those who contributed to the supply report as well as all participants of our launch event for their exciting input and discussion.
You couldn’t attend the event?
Read more.
5. New publications
CoRe-Net I
Pfaff, H., Albus, C., Bach, L., Blaschke, K., Britz, A., Hower, K., Ihle, P., Jessen, F., Kasdorf, A., Kuntz, L., Meyer, I., Peltzer, S., Scholten, N., Schultz-Nieswandt, F., Seibert, M., Stock, S., Strupp, J., Vennedey, V., Voltz, R. (2020). CoRe-Net – Cologne Research and Development Network: Schlussbericht 2020: Laufzeit des Vorhabens: 01.02.2017-30.04.2020. Köln: Universität zu Köln. 
The article is available here.
CoRe-Net II in cooperation with LYOL-C I
Blaschke, K., Meyer, I., Strupp, J., Kasdorf, A. & Voltz, R. (2021). Versorgung von Menschen im letzten Lebensjahr in Köln – Ein CoRe-Net Versorgungsbericht. CoRe-Net: Kölner Kompetenznetzwerk aus Praxis und Forschung.
The article is available here.
LYOL-C I
Kasdorf, A., Dust, G., Vennedey, V., Rietz, C., Polidori, M.C., Voltz, R., Strupp, J.; on behalf of the CoRe‑Net Co‑applicants (2021). What are the risk factors for avoidable transitions in the last year of life? A qualitative exploration of professionals’ perspectives for improving care in Germany. BMC Health Serv Res, 21(147). DOI: 10.1186/s12913-021-06138-4.
The article is available here.
LYOL-C II
Strupp, J., Kasdorf, A., Dust, G., Hower, KI., Seibert, M., Werner, B., Kuntz, L., Schulz-Nieswandt, F., Meyer, I., Pfaff, H., Hellmich, M., Voltz, R.; On behalf of CoRe-Net (2021). Last Year of Life Study-Cologne (LYOL-C) (Part II): study protocol of a prospective interventional mixed-methods study in acute hospitals to analyse the implementation of a trigger question and patient question prompt sheets to optimise patient-centred care. BMJ Open, 11(7).
The article is available here.
MenDis-CHD I
Peltzer, S., Müller, H., Köstler, U., Schulz-Nieswandt, F., Jessen, F., Albus, C.; on behalf of the CoRe-Net study group (2020). Detection and treatment of mental disorders in patients with coronary heart disease (MenDis-CHD): A cross-sectional study. PLOS ONE, 15(12): e0243800. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0243800.
The article is available here.
OrgValue I
Ansmann, L., Vennedey, V., Hillen, H.A., Stock, S., Kuntz, L., Pfaff, H., Mannion, R. and Hower, K.I. (2021). Resource dependency and strategy in healthcare organizations during a time of scarce resources: evidence from the metropolitan area of cologne. Journal of Health Organization and Management, 35(9), 211-227.
The article is available here.
Leidner, C., Vennedey, V., Hillen, H., Ansmann, L., Stock, S., Kuntz, L., Pfaff, H., Hower, KI.; On behalf of the CoRe‑Net Co‑applicants (2021). Implementation of patient-centred care: which system-level determinants matter from a decision maker’s perspective? Results from a qualitative interview study across various health and social care organisations. BMJ Open, 11: e050054.
The article is available here.
K-APAT
K-APAT (2021). Fact-Sheet: Ergebnisse der Befragung von Hausärzt:innen zur Evaluation der hausärztlichen Versorgung an der ambulantstationären Schnittstelle im Regierungsbezirk Köln.
Köln: Veröffentlichungsreihe des Instituts für Medizinsoziologie, Versorgungsforschung und Rehabilitationswissenschaft (IMVR) der Universität zu Köln.
The article is available here.
6. News from the CoRe-Net subprojects
6.1 LYOL-C II – Last year of Life study Cologne II: Modelling and evaluation of a minimally invasive two-sided intervention to deliver patient-centered care in hospitals
The project was approved by the ethics committee of the University Hospital of Cologne. After the successful start of the control phase, the start of the intervention is now being prepared. We are pleased to announce that recruitment has started on a second unit of the University Hospital Cologne. Eight patients and four close relatives have already completed the baseline survey.
Read more here.
6.2 MenDis-CHD II – A primary care physician based intervention to improve health care in coronary heart disease patients with mental and cognitive disorders
For the follow-up of patients from MenDis-CHD I (study part A), 190 people have already been contacted, of whom 112 patients could be recruited for the study. In sub-project B, the planned interviews with seven patients, three representatives and ten general practitioners were completed and evaluated. Based on this, an tailoring of the intervention material is finally in progress.
The main focus in study part C is currently on the data protection-compliant design of the data export from the general practitioners’ offices as well as on a pretest of the data provision for the export. Corresponding documents for the submission of the ethics application and the contractual design are also in progress.
Read more here.
6.3 OrgValue II – A multicenter-multilevel approach to examining regulatory and organizational bottlenecks in the care of vulnerable patients in Cologne
Delphi study
The initial interviews with representatives were completed in July 2021. A total of 13 people from the fields of inpatient hospital care, quality management, patient representation, statutory health insurance, methodology and health policy participated and shared their perspectives on remuneration incentives in inpatient hospital care.
Read more here.
7. News from the cooperation projects
7.1 K-APAT – Outpatient Parenteral Antibiotic therapy in the Metropolitan Area of Cologne
An exciting focus group discussion with physicians in private practice and clinicians from the Cologne Infectious Diseases Network took place. The evaluations are currently in progress. In addition, interviews were conducted with other care providers. One interview is still pending, so that the data collection of the qualitative, provider-sided part of the project can be completed soon.
The results of the quantitative general practitioner survey are available in our factsheet. First results have also been submitted as abstracts to two congresses and will be presented at these events this year.
Patient inclusion in K-APAT according to plan. Interviews with APAT patients have been completed. A total of twelve interviews were conducted, exceeding the target of ten patient interviews.
Read more here.
7.2 CoRe-Web – Implementation and Evaluation of an Online Platform for research data of the metropolitan region Rhineland using the example of health care research in the last year of life
Since July 2021 CoRe-Net has been cooperating with the CoRe-Web project. CoRe-Web has set itself the aim of developing a practice-relevant and target group-specific online platform for the presentation of results from health services research for practical use. This is exemplified by the results of the LYOL-C I study.
Read more here.
8. International Consortium for Health Outcomes Measurement (ICHOM)
A relevant approach for CoRe-Net is the concept of Value-based Healthcare, as represented by ICHOM.
News:
– ICHOM 2021 Virtual Learning Series
The virtual learning series ticket includes access to all recordings of previous events in 2021, as well as a Webinar on September 22 and the ICHOM Global Virtual Congress on November 8 to 11.
The learning series webinars are designed to explain and promote value-based healthcare (VBHC) by highlighting the importance of ICHOM Standard Sets adoption to continuously improve the outcomes that matter most to patients.
Furthermore, the ICHOM Global Virtual Congress will include the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on patient-centered care and case studies on ICHOM standard sets implementation.
>> More information
>> Registration opportunity
– ICHOM signs a multi-year agreement with Dutch health analytics company LOGEX to launch the ICHOM Global Benchmarking Platform
In March 2021 ICHOM signed a multi-year agreement with Dutch healthcare analytics company LOGEX to launch the ICHOM Global Benchmarking Platform. The collaboration will provide the healthcare community with the first platform for international benchmarking of patient outcomes, enabling faster learning and improvements in healthcare.
Read more.
With best regards,
Prof. Holger Pfaff und Dr. Nadine Scholten and Lisa Bach
on behalf of the applicants
