TY - JOUR
T1 - CPMS–improving patient care in Europe via virtual case discussions
AU - Mönig, Isabel
AU - Steenvoorden, Danielle
AU - de Graaf, Johan P.
AU - Ahmed, S. Faisal
AU - Taruscio, Domenica
AU - Beun, Johan G.
AU - Johannsen, Trine Holm
AU - Juul, Anders
AU - Hiort, Olaf
AU - Pereira, Alberto M.
N1 - Funding Information:
The authors are members of the European Reference Network on Rare Endocrine Conditions ( https://endo-ern.eu/ ). Endo-ERN is a European Reference Network co-funded by the European Union’s 3rd Health Programme (CHAFEA FPA grant No 739527). The Operational Helpdesk is funded by the CEF Telecom Call 2018–EU-IA-0175.
Funding Information:
The authors would like to thank Charlotte van Beuzekom, Endo-ERN Project Manager, Sandra van Klink, Endo-ERN Project assistant, both University Medical Centre, Leiden, the Netherlands, and Jillian Bryce, EuRRECa project manager, Office for Rare Conditions, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK for their comprehensive support during the operational period of CPMS. The authors are grateful to the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF)-Telecommunications Sector for the generous funding of the Operational Helpdesk. The authors are members of the European Reference Network on Rare Endocrine Conditions (https://endo-ern.eu/). Endo-ERN is a European Reference Network co-funded by the European Union?s 3rd Health Programme (CHAFEA FPA grant No 739527). The Operational Helpdesk is funded by the CEF Telecom Call 2018?EU-IA-0175. IM and DS have drafted the paper. JPG, SFA, DT, THJ, AJ and JGB have contributed aspects to the content, according to their expertise and function within Endo-ERN. OH and AMP have supervised the writing.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021, The Author(s).
Copyright:
Copyright 2021 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2021/3
Y1 - 2021/3
N2 - Purpose: The core task of European Reference Networks (ERNs) is to reduce health care inequalities throughout Europe for all patients with rare and complex conditions. A secure web-based application for virtual consultations, the Clinical Patient Management System (CPMS), was developed by the EU to provide expert specialized care for all these patients. This review analyses the opportunities and difficulties that the implementation of this virtual network implies for physicians as well as for the patients. Methods: European Reference Network on Rare Endocrine Conditions (Endo-ERN) installed an Operational Helpdesk (OH) to support their members in using CPMS. The OH initiated several actions to facilitate and increase the usage of CPMS. Satisfaction with the system and reasons for low participation rates in virtual case discussions were analyzed by different surveys. Results: The number of CPMS users increased constantly, but the active usage of the system remains insufficient. Main reasons were technical difficulties, lack of time and insufficient awareness about CPMS in experts and patients throughout Europe. Still, outcomes of the virtual discussions are considered useful by involved experts and the discussions have provided topics for educational webinars and research. Conclusions: CPMS is a secure system with many advantages compared to previous ways of consulting experts but also difficulties that need to be overcome with future strategies. By facilitating its use and increasing awareness among all relevant European experts and patients, CPMS can help to make the existing expertise available for all patients with rare (endocrine) conditions throughout Europe as it was intended.
AB - Purpose: The core task of European Reference Networks (ERNs) is to reduce health care inequalities throughout Europe for all patients with rare and complex conditions. A secure web-based application for virtual consultations, the Clinical Patient Management System (CPMS), was developed by the EU to provide expert specialized care for all these patients. This review analyses the opportunities and difficulties that the implementation of this virtual network implies for physicians as well as for the patients. Methods: European Reference Network on Rare Endocrine Conditions (Endo-ERN) installed an Operational Helpdesk (OH) to support their members in using CPMS. The OH initiated several actions to facilitate and increase the usage of CPMS. Satisfaction with the system and reasons for low participation rates in virtual case discussions were analyzed by different surveys. Results: The number of CPMS users increased constantly, but the active usage of the system remains insufficient. Main reasons were technical difficulties, lack of time and insufficient awareness about CPMS in experts and patients throughout Europe. Still, outcomes of the virtual discussions are considered useful by involved experts and the discussions have provided topics for educational webinars and research. Conclusions: CPMS is a secure system with many advantages compared to previous ways of consulting experts but also difficulties that need to be overcome with future strategies. By facilitating its use and increasing awareness among all relevant European experts and patients, CPMS can help to make the existing expertise available for all patients with rare (endocrine) conditions throughout Europe as it was intended.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85100341828&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/94b0155f-f221-374f-9689-0934761ab37d/
U2 - 10.1007/s12020-021-02628-x
DO - 10.1007/s12020-021-02628-x
M3 - Journal articles
C2 - 33528763
AN - SCOPUS:85100341828
SN - 1355-008X
VL - 71
SP - 549
EP - 554
JO - Endocrine
JF - Endocrine
IS - 3
ER -
