Gesundheitswesen
· 2025 Nov · PMID 40962261
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Due to effective prevention strategies with regard to oral health in Germany, a huge reduction in the prevalence of dental caries in children and adolescents has been registered in children and adolescents. However, this...Due to effective prevention strategies with regard to oral health in Germany, a huge reduction in the prevalence of dental caries in children and adolescents has been registered in children and adolescents. However, this improvement is considerably lower in deciduous teeth compared to permanent teeth. This shows that there is still a need for action. A study organized by the DAJ (Deutsche Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Jugendzahnpflege) for the school year 2015/2016 came to the conclusion that almost 14% of the 3-year-old children in kindergartens were already affected by tooth decay. Therefore, an earlier start with prophylactic prevention measures is the order of the day. Accordingly, the DAJ extended in 2016 its original recommendations of 2012 and included group prophylaxis measures for children under the age of 3 years. Also in 2019, early oral examinations in dental offices and oral health education for parents were included in the list of services of the German social health insurance. The legislator also justified these extras with the fact that in this age group, a relevant number of children do not receive any group prophylaxis measures. The prophylactic prevention program "Mice Teeth Campaign" helps to close this gap. The program not only promotes group prophylaxis for children under 3 years of age but also effectively supports the group prophylaxis programs for children over the age of 3 that are already being carried out in kindergartens, like the "Kita mit Biss" program. Similar to an open-source software, the prevention program represents a basis that can be individually adapted, changed, and/or expanded accordingly to local conditions. The structure of the basic and elective modules promotes acceptance by kindergartens, allowing for an easier access to a faster consent for the prevention program. Although the primary goal of the prevention program was to contribute in the reduction of early childhood caries, it was important for the project team to develop a program that could be easily transferred to other oral health working groups in Germany. It would be ideal if the participating working groups shared their additionally developed materials, ideas, experiences, and suggestions in a common pool so that all this information would be available to all participants. Technically, this is already possible thanks to the project's website.
Achieving a work-life balance is a central issue for many physicians when choosing a specialty. Women in particular often feel compelled to choose between career and family, which frequently leads to setbacks in their pr...Achieving a work-life balance is a central issue for many physicians when choosing a specialty. Women in particular often feel compelled to choose between career and family, which frequently leads to setbacks in their professional advancement. In pediatrics, the proportion of women is especially high; however, there is little data on the compatibility of parenthood and professional life in this field.An anonymous web-based survey was conducted using a questionnaire adapted from other postgraduate medical training surveys. The survey ran from March 15 to May 1, 2023, and was aimed at physicians in pediatric postgraduate training. The results were analyzed statistically using GraphPad Prism and through qualitative content analysis.A total of 652 out of 4,160 invited individuals participated in the survey (16%). The results showed that women with children were less likely to pursue senior positions or self-employment compared to childless women or men. Instead, they more often preferred employed positions in outpatient practices. Part-time work, for both women and men, was perceived to be a disadvantage in career development, due to a lack of continuity, supervision, and acceptance from superiors.The survey highlights the urgent need for more flexible working hours, predictable schedules, and fewer overtime demands in order to better balance work and family life. The results emphasize the importance of making pediatrics a more family-friendly specialty. Key measures include flexible work models, on-site childcare, and proper recognition of actual hours worked during training, also for those on part-time contracts. Mentoring and support programs could further encourage women to pursue careers as senior physicians or in private practice, despite family obligations.
The study addresses the gap in rehabilitation care of people with cognitive and/or multiple Impairments. Conventional medical care structures are often insufficiently adapted to the needs of this patient group. In this p...The study addresses the gap in rehabilitation care of people with cognitive and/or multiple Impairments. Conventional medical care structures are often insufficiently adapted to the needs of this patient group. In this project, the rehabilitative care gap is practically closed with a social space-oriented rehabilitation concept for people with cognitive and/or multiple Impairments and to create sustainable solutions. The challenges of needs-oriented rehabilitative care for IdmD and the solutions from the experimental pilot project are presented and discussed.This study was designed as a prospective, monocentric pilot study with an exploratory character. An interprofessional team systematically documented the challenges and inhibiting factors during the implementation and intervention phase in a laboratory book.A total of 15 people with different cognitive and/or multiple Impairments and contextual factors participated in the pilot study. Even during the preparation for the intervention phase, challenging structural aspects arose, particularly in resource and process planning. During the intervention phase, organizational challenges came to the fore, such as scheduling appointments with caregivers, coordinating transport services and managing room availability. Direct interactions with patients required spontaneity and improvisation to address individual behaviors and challenging situations effectively.The social environment-oriented rehabilitation concept shows that the heterogeneous needs of people with cognitive and/or multiple Impairments can be addressed individually and that participants can be successfully supported in achieving their participation goals. The social environment-oriented rehabilitation concept is practical to implement. It appears to be a promising development in the health care system in the context of demographic changes, increase in chronic illnesses, and increased use of outpatient medical treatment.
Goldhahn L, Bienzeisler J, Otto R
… +2 more, Swart E, Drynda S
Gesundheitswesen
· 2025 Nov · PMID 40907545
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The aim of the research project ENQuIRE was to investigate the relationship between quality indicators of emergency departments (ED) and their relevance for patient outcomes. To this end, a data base with 12,067 electron...The aim of the research project ENQuIRE was to investigate the relationship between quality indicators of emergency departments (ED) and their relevance for patient outcomes. To this end, a data base with 12,067 electronic health records (MDAT) of treatment cases in 15 German ED from 2019 was established. For these MDAT, health claims data of Techniker Krankenkasse (TK) from various service sectors were also requested. In this paper, information from MDAT on the individual patient's admission to the hospital or visit to the ED as an outpatient is compared to health claims data. Based on this, the extent to which the health claims data can be used to replace non-usable information in MDAT is estimated.A selection was made of MDAT from the study population that allowed linkage with health claims data. Based on this, "Abgleich" (comparison) included MDAT for which reliable information on the patient's outpatient discharge, inpatient admission or other was available. By contrast, MDAT for which the information could not be used were included in "Ableitung" (derivation). Both in "Abgleich" as well as "Ableitung", health claims data of inpatient hospital treatments (Social act V § 301) and outpatient treatments accredited by statutory health insurance (Social act V § 295) were linked to MDAT.For 9,113 MDAT from the ENQuIRE study population, information on patient's whereabouts was available without linking health claims data. As part of "Abgleich", inpatient or outpatient billing cases could be identified for 5,450 MDAT. In direct comparison of both linked data sources, information on outpatient discharges and inpatient admissions aligned in more than 90 % of cases. As part of "Ableitung", information for 3,749 MDAT could be derived from health claims data. In combination of "Abgleich" and "Ableitung", the potential of health claims data comprised up to 9,199 outpatient treatments or inpatient admissions.Inpatient admissions following ED visits and outpatient treatments in ED can be meaningfully mapped in health claims data. Despite certain inconsistencies, health claims data matches the respective information in MDAT to a high degree. The potential with regard to the total number of cases is in ENQuIRE roughly similar when comparing both data sources. Which source of information is used for analyses therefore depends primarily on theoretical or methodological considerations.
Stahmeyer JT, Zeidler J, Schütte S
… +7 more, Warnemünde-Jagau P, Eidt-Koch D, Schulte F, Breitner MH, Jankowski I, Herr A, Kahl KG
Gesundheitswesen
· 2026 Jun · PMID 40897338
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In 2019, the Digital Care Act introduced digital health applications as "apps on prescription" in the statutory health insurance. However, little is known about the knowledge and acceptance of digital care services for t...In 2019, the Digital Care Act introduced digital health applications as "apps on prescription" in the statutory health insurance. However, little is known about the knowledge and acceptance of digital care services for the treatment of depression among the affected patients. The aim of the present study was to gather information about knowledge, attitudes and intention to use of such services. An anonymous survey of people diagnosed with depression aged 18-70 was conducted. Patients were invited by their health insurer to participate in the study via mail. Data from 624 people were analysed. About half of the participants had acute depression according to PHQ-9 at the time of the survey. Only 28% of the respondents were already aware of digital possibilities for depression treatment. The picture regarding possible future use was heterogeneous. A third of participants could consider using digital services, around a quarter ruled this out. Possible fields of application were seen as an aftercare model, a digital technology to bridge waiting times or to supplement specialists-guided therapy. Digital offers as a replacement for personal therapies were rejected by the majority of the participants. Quality control and a prescription by the practitioner appear to be particularly important. The study provides relevant findings regarding the premises and the context in which digital care services have the potential to be successfully established in routine care.
Gothe H, Achstetter K, Begerow T
… +8 more, Goldhahn L, Hengel P, Jacke C, Köppen J, Kortmann M, Ramm P, Schaarschmidt J, Stallmann C
Gesundheitswesen
· 2025 Nov · PMID 40882937
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In contrast to statutory health insurance (SHI) data, private health insurance (PHI) billing data have scarcely been used for scientific purposes in health and healthcare-related research and epidemiology. To date, findi...In contrast to statutory health insurance (SHI) data, private health insurance (PHI) billing data have scarcely been used for scientific purposes in health and healthcare-related research and epidemiology. To date, findings can be obtained for 87.3% of people with health insurance in Germany based on analyses of SHI data. Often, however, only parts of the entire range of services covered by the SHI are depicted on a project-specific basis, depending on the data provided by the various cooperating health insurance funds. This means that statements can be made about the vast majority of the insured population. Nevertheless, a substantial proportion of the insured population is missing, meaning that no general validity for the entire population has been achieved to date. In addition to the 10% of people with comprehensive PHI, it has not been possible with the previous study focus on SHI data to conduct empirical research on the approximately 29 million people who have statutory health insurance and supplementary private insurance. This gap can be closed by supplementing the data on those with SHI with data on those with PHI. Accordingly, the research data center (FDZ) for health is planning to include private health insurance billing data. Yet there is a number of differences between SHI and PHI data, especially regarding the outpatient physician data, knowledge of which is a prerequisite for the proper analysis and interpretation of PHI data. This first article in a three-part series on the scientific use of PHI data on outpatient care and pharmaceutical prescriptions provides a systematic overview of the methodologically and analytically relevant similarities and differences between the two insurance systems based knowledge gained to date. In addition, the most important terms for the PHI sector are listed in the form of a glossary and the administrative and pragmatic requirements for the scientific use of PHI data are explained.
Hoffmann W, Härter M, Bierbaum T
… +33 more, Ansmann L, Brütt AL, Dreinhöfer K, Geraedts M, Köberlein-Neu J, Pohontsch NJ, Riedel-Heller S, Vollmar HC, von Kutzleben M, Wiegand HF, Baum F, Burggraf L, Gabrys L, Grill E, Gühne U, Hammer A, Harst L, Herrler A, Herrmann A, Heuser C, Kowalski C, Kuske S, March S, Neumann A, Nöst S, Panchyrz I, Peters S, Recken H, Sturm-Inwald EC, Thiel C, van Baal K, Pfaff H, Schmitt J
Gesundheitswesen
· 2025 Aug · PMID 40876827
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The scope and definition of health care research is a matter of discussion in our scientific community. The Board of the German Network for Health Care Research has drafted a position paper that was extensively reviewed...The scope and definition of health care research is a matter of discussion in our scientific community. The Board of the German Network for Health Care Research has drafted a position paper that was extensively reviewed and commented upon by all working groups and specialist groups of the network. The present version represents consented common grounds to a large degree but is neither complete nor final. We consider this position paper a living document that will evolve and further converge in an ongoing discussion in the network.
Heyl L, Schneider N, Engeleit K
… +5 more, Hesse A, Egen C, Boekel A, Korallus C, Herbst FA
Gesundheitswesen
· 2025 Aug · PMID 40816299
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The care of patients suffering from post-COVID presents general practitioners with a number of challenges in terms of diagnosis and treatment, as well as in the coordination of further care options at various levels (pri...The care of patients suffering from post-COVID presents general practitioners with a number of challenges in terms of diagnosis and treatment, as well as in the coordination of further care options at various levels (primary care, specialist care and maximum care, e. g., at university hospitals). Cooperation between general practitioners and specialist providers is of particular importance for complex conditions such as post-COVID. In the ViCoReK project, general practitioners and their patients have the option of receiving telemedical advice from an interdisciplinary team comprising staff from a university hospital. The study's was to identify the factors that influence general practitioners' participation in the project.The study, conducted in February and April 2024, utilized two focus groups, namely general practitioners who had and those who had not utilized consultation opportunities within the ViCoReK project. The focus groups were subjected to qualitative content analysis.The results of the 93- and 102-minute focus groups with 13 general practitioners and one physician assistant showed that only a small number of severely affected patients with post-COVID were currently being treated in the respondents' practices. Caring for these patients was time-consuming and put pressure on general practitioners, as the currently available treatment options were experienced as only partially helpful. The personal dedication of general practitioners encouraged participation in the project: The general practitioners expressed a desire to exchange ideas with experts on the subject of post-COVID and were committed to incorporating digital technologies into their practices. The most significant barriers to their participation were challenges related to the digitalization of their practices, inadequate reimbursement options, and lack of time.Despite a willingness to utilise telemedical post-COVID services for networking with specialist outpatient clinics, general practitioners encounter significant barriers to their implementation at the structural level, including technical, financial and temporal constraints. To address these challenges, the development of digital services to support post-COVID care must be guided by principles of accessibility and pragmatism, ensuring their feasibility in general practices, even in the context of limited time.
Gesundheitswesen
· 2025 Dec · PMID 40816298
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Ultrasound (US) screening for thyroid cancer and other non-indicated US of the thyroid lead to the detection of mostly benign nodules or small papillary carcinomas. Although US screening for thyroid cancer is discouraged...Ultrasound (US) screening for thyroid cancer and other non-indicated US of the thyroid lead to the detection of mostly benign nodules or small papillary carcinomas. Although US screening for thyroid cancer is discouraged by guidelines, it continues to be performed. We aimed to explore the effects of thyroid US early in the diagnostic process on further diagnostic and therapeutic procedures in Germany.In a retrospective observational cohort study, we analysed claims data from 2012 to 2016 of patients without history of thyroid disease. After propensity score matching for sociodemographic characteristics, a selection of symptoms and diagnoses (e. g. fatigue, hypertension) and morbidity in the last year, patients with an initial TSH test and a thyroid US within 28 days after the test were compared to patients receiving an initial TSH test but no early US. Patients with hypo- or hyperthyroidism diagnosed directly after the initial TSH were excluded. Thyroid-specific morbidity, follow-up tests and therapeutic pathways were analysed.In total, 5,390 patients remained in each group after data selection and matching (mean age: 46.5 years (SD=15.0), 58% female). Early US was associated with higher thyroid-specific morbidity, especially regarding thyroid nodules. Additionally, more patients in the observation group received thyroid-related follow-up test. The utilization of ambulatory healthcare services in the first year was higher in this group, especially for internal medicine working in general practice, internal medicine, nuclear medicine, and radiology.Early use of US was associated with increased thyroid-specific morbidity, even after excluding patients with hypo- or hyperthyroidism after the initial TSH. Subsequently more diagnostic and therapeutic procedures were performed. Increased morbidity may be due to overtesting with diagnostic cascades resulting in overdiagnosis and overtreatment. Further research is needed to estimate the true number of overdiagnoses.
Gesundheitswesen
· 2026 May · PMID 40789310
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BACKGROUND: Public pharmacies are important for healthcare in Germany, despite decrease in their number over several years. Considering demographic aging and an expected increase in demand for pharmacy-specific services,...BACKGROUND: Public pharmacies are important for healthcare in Germany, despite decrease in their number over several years. Considering demographic aging and an expected increase in demand for pharmacy-specific services, adequate organization of pharmacy care services for specific target groups and regions is, therefore, highly relevant. For this, knowledge of utilization patterns and their determinants is crucial. This study aims to identify the determinants of visiting public pharmacies, while focusing on the relation of age and morbidity, by analyzing mediation effects. Additionally, specific target groups of public pharmacies will be identified. METHODS: As data basis, a telephone survey was carried out in the federal state of Bavaria in Germany. The sample consists of 436 participants. To identify determinants of utilization, weighted generalized linear models were carried out. Next, causal mediation analysis was applied to analyze how much the association between age and visiting a public pharmacy may be explained by morbidity. Additionally, population groups with the highest predicted probability of a pharmacy visit as well as the most predicted pharmacy visits were identified. RESULTS: Females (AME=0.072), older people (AME=0.086) and those who have at least one disease (AME=0.147) were found to have a higher, people with higher educational attainment (AME=-0.076) a lower probability of having visited a public pharmacy. Causal mediation analysis revealed a mediation effect of morbidity in the relation between age and public pharmacy visit (about 14%). Additionally, older women living in rural regions were found to have the highest predicted probability of having visited a public pharmacy. CONCLUSION: The results of this study highlight the need for further research regarding the determinants of pharmacy care utilization, especially focusing on their interplay. This is crucial for organizing future target group-specific pharmacy services when facing an increased demand with a simultaneous decrease in supply.
Gesundheitswesen
· 2025 Aug · PMID 40789292
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Group B Streptococcus (GBS) colonisation affects around 13% of pregnant women and increases the risk of peripartum infection in newborns, preterm delivery and premature rupture of membranes. GBS infections are a major ca...Group B Streptococcus (GBS) colonisation affects around 13% of pregnant women and increases the risk of peripartum infection in newborns, preterm delivery and premature rupture of membranes. GBS infections are a major cause of neonatal sepsis. Early onset GBS (EOGBS) infections in the first seven days of life are particularly dangerous for newborns. Prevention is achieved by intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis following a positive GBS screening during pregnancy. Screening strategies in pregnant women include universal GBS screening using a rectovaginal swab, assessment of maternal risk factors for EOGBS infection as a risk-based strategy, or a combination of both.The aim of this World Health Organization (WHO) recommendation was to improve the quality of care and outcomes for pregnant women and neonates with regard to the prevention of EOGBS. Consequently, there is a need to develop appropriate screening strategies for GBS in order to initiate intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis.This recommendation was developed by a group of independent international experts and complements the existing recommendation on intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis for positive GBS. It was developed in accordance with the WHO guideline development manual. This includes identification of key questions and outcomes, appraisal of the evidence, grading of the evidence using the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation) approach, and formulation of the recommendation by the guideline group, considering additional factors such as cost, pregnant women's and family values and preferences, as well as impact on health equity.WHO recommends that pregnant women be screened for the need for intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis to reduce the risk of EOGBS infection. Either universal antenatal GBS screening or a risk-based strategy should be offered as a screening strategy. Pregnant women with a positive test result or at increased risk should receive intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis.
Klasing S, Bittmann JA, Faller CK
… +2 more, Metzner M, Seidling HM
Gesundheitswesen
· 2025 Aug · PMID 40780276
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To ensure continuous medication supply after hospital discharge, German hospitals are allowed to issue discharge prescriptions since 2017 with the requirement to issue electronically since 2025. It is known that 44% of t...To ensure continuous medication supply after hospital discharge, German hospitals are allowed to issue discharge prescriptions since 2017 with the requirement to issue electronically since 2025. It is known that 44% of those prescriptions are not filled in on the same day; however, it remains unknown whether these delays are caused by the patient, drug shortages, or difficulties in processing the prescription in the community pharmacies as e. g. formal errors of prescriptions. As the latter are reported by surveyed community pharmacies for paperbased prescriptions, we analysed the formal quality of electronic discharge prescriptions. Additionally, we simulated the dispensing process in the community pharmacy to estimate how well discharge prescriptions can be delivered.We drew a prospective sample of signed electronic discharge prescription from the University Hospital Heidelberg and conducted descriptive analysis: The formal quality was assessed with regard to the validity and eligibility for reimbursement. In a natural experiment, six community pharmacies assessed at least 100 discharge prescriptions regarding whether the medicinal product (a) would have been on stock, (b) could have been delivered by the main pharmaceutical wholesaler, or (c) a partner pharmacy or a different wholesaler, or (d) could not have been supplied within a short period of time.In total, 484 electronic prescriptions were included (15.10. - 29.11.2024) belonging to 117 patient cases. 479 electronic prescription were documented via central pharmaceutical number and classified as valid as the name of the medicinal product, strength, form of application, amount to be dispensed and dosage were documented. In terms of reimbursement, all prescriptions contained the speciality of the physician and in 79.3% the smallest package size was prescribed. On average, the six community pharmacies assessed 335 [121-380] discharge prescriptions. In 43.5%-60.3% cases the medicinal product would have been on stock (a) and 37.9%-53.6% of prescriptions could have been delivered by the main pharmaceutical wholesaler (4.3 daily tours). The availability did not differ significantly between the pharmacies.While paperbased discharge prescriptions were described as errorprone, there were no formal errors in the electronic prescriptions analysed that would have disrupted the medication supply. The prescribed medicinal products were avalaible in nearly all cases at least until the next delivery of the main wholesaler.
Wenzel M, Corr D, Riedel N
… +2 more, Hapfelmeier J, Zimmermann L
Gesundheitswesen
· 2025 Aug · PMID 40763777
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The Health Data Lab (Forschungsdatenzentrum, FDZ) is responsible for making anonymized claims data from all statutory health insurance beneficiaries in Germany available to research. These data provide longitudinal infor...The Health Data Lab (Forschungsdatenzentrum, FDZ) is responsible for making anonymized claims data from all statutory health insurance beneficiaries in Germany available to research. These data provide longitudinal information on the healthcare of a large part of the German population, and making it available for secondary use in research and development is a legally enshrined goal. The technological basis is subject to a continuous development process, which repeatedly offers the opportunity to address the evolving needs and requirements of authorized users. The present assessment aims to contribute to the identification and classification of these needs and requirements. The findings obtained from semi-structured interviews with authorized users are formulated as recommendations for the further development of the FDZ.
Heudorf U, Oberndörfer D, Kowall B
… +2 more, Ditzel F, Steul K
Gesundheitswesen
· 2026 Mar · PMID 40763776
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Periods of heat lead to increased mortality and morbidity. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether a trend of rescue deployments on heat days (Tmax≥32°C) from 2014 to 2024 is recognizable, whether morbidi...Periods of heat lead to increased mortality and morbidity. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether a trend of rescue deployments on heat days (Tmax≥32°C) from 2014 to 2024 is recognizable, whether morbidity already increases at lower temperatures (Tmax≥30°C or≥28°C) and whether an exposure-response curve is recognizable - for all patients and separately for different age groups.All 250,507 deployments from June to August 2014-2024 in Frankfurt am Main and weather data from the German meteorological Service at the Frankfurt weather station were used for the study. For each year, the deployments on heat days were compared with those on non-heat days (difference and ratio). Using the pairs of values (year, additional number of rescue missions on heat days with Tmax≥32°C), a linear regression model was adapted for the years 2014 to 2024 and the trend in the additional number of missions per year was estimated. Additional analyses were carried out for Tmax≥30°C and≥28°C. For the calculation of the exposure-response curve, the exposures over all years were calculated according to daily Tmax in 2°C steps, with Tmax<18°C as reference. These analyses were carried out for all patients and for age groups up to 59 years, 60-79 years and 80 years and older.Between 2014 and 2024, the additional deployments on heat days with Tmax≥32°C decreased significantly from+25 in 2014 to - 6.6 in 2024 (- 2.9; 95% CI - 3.5 - - 2.4). Overall, 6.2% (ratio=1.062 (95% CI: 1.050-1.075)) more deployments were required on heat days with Tmax≥32°C than on days without this definition, comparable to days with Tmax≥30°C (+6.3%; ratio=1.063 (95% CI: 1.053-1.073)), or≥28°C (+6.1%; ratio=1.061 (95% CI: 1.052-1.069)). The largest increase was seen in patients under 60 years of age, The dose-response curve showed a linear increase of 27% in those under 60 and 16% in those over 80, with the latter reaching a plateau at Tmax 28°C and above.The decreasing additional need for deployments at Tmax≥32°C could indicate an adaptation of the population, but requires further investigation. Morbidity already increases on days with lower Tmax. As people≤60 y are particularly affected, prevention measures should be strengthened and extended to younger, working people.
Lages N, Scholl I, Quezada C
… +5 more, Hahlweg P, Zeh S, Dois A, Bravo P, Härter M
Gesundheitswesen
· 2025 Oct · PMID 40744106
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Patient-centered care (PCC) is a key principle of high-quality health care and is becoming increasingly relevant in many countries. In 2006, Chile declared PCC as a fundamental pillar of its health care system. However,...Patient-centered care (PCC) is a key principle of high-quality health care and is becoming increasingly relevant in many countries. In 2006, Chile declared PCC as a fundamental pillar of its health care system. However, PCC implementation in the Chilean healthcare system is still lagging. Some factors contributing to this are 1) the complexity of the concept, 2) the interdependence between healthcare activities and policy regulations, and 3) the need for a cultural change in health politics and care. This paper shares experiences of how we have tried to address some of these challenges by establishing an international network for PCC.As part of a collaborative project between researchers and clinicians based in Chile and Germany, have established the International Network for Patient-Centered Care (PCC NET) that enables knowledge exchange and trainings through different means.A website was developed and launchedas a platform to share knowledge. Furthermore, a series of online seminars on PCC was organized, each conducted by an international expert in the field. In January 2023, several face-to-face were held in Chile attended by 51 participants, comprising health care professionals responsible for implementing PCC in the country, those working for the Ministry of Health or those in primary care in Chile. Workshops were evaluated by assessing the participants' reactions via surveys, and the participants rated the workshops positively. In January 2024, the first Latin American Conference on Patient-Centered Care was implemented in Santiago de Chile. There were four keynotes, two roundtables, five workshops, 31 oral and 19 poster presentations from both research and clinical practice during the two conference days with 196 participants on location.Establishing the PCC NET has facilitated international collaboration, knowledge exchange, and capacity-building for PCC implementation in Chile. Through different communication strategies, such as workshops, seminars and a conference, it was possible to enhance awareness and practical knowledge among healthcare professionals and policymakers. These initiatives represent significant steps toward advancing PCC in Chile, although continued efforts are needed to address remaining challenges and sustain momentum in policy and practice.