Quickcard-Based Approach to Guiding Specific Nonpharmacological Treatments in a German Parkinson's Network

Interdisciplinary care has been shown to be effective at optimizing the treatment of patients with Parkinson's disease. An optimized collaboration between the various healthcare providers involved in the treatment process facilitates successful care. One of the main shortcomings in the German healthcare system is the limited and unstandardized communication between practitioners. The Parkinson's network Münsterland+ (PNM+) is an interdisciplinary network of medical and non-medical experts involved in the treatment of Parkinson's patients: neurologists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, psychologists, Parkinson's nurses, pharmacists, patients, and relatives. The PNM+ elaborates guideline-based therapy recommendations, provided as so-called "Quickcards". Thereby, the communication of the treating neurologist and therapists is based on a coordinated feedback system and suggestions to adequately select and, if necessary, adjust the therapy. In the German healthcare system, with its fragmented structures, the PNM+ and its activities have been shown to enhance integration of the healthcare providers and thereby optimize the care of Parkinson's disease patients. Future research should evaluate the effects and cost-effectiveness.