Saarland starts innovative project to improve Parkinson's care!

Saarland starts innovative project to improve Parkinson's care!

On April 10, 2025, a groundbreaking research project to improve the care of Parkinson's patients will start in Saarland. Led by Professor Sergiu Groppa, Director of the Department of Neurology at Saarland University Hospital, the “INSPIRE” project aims to sustainably increase the quality of life of those affected and their families. Highly qualified nursing professionals who work as Advanced Practice Nurses (APN) play a central role.

The project is designed exclusively for patients with Parkinson's who are legally insured and extends over a period of twelve months. A total of 1,300 participants can take part in the study. Interested patients can contact neurological practices or INSPIRE project management. The implementation takes place in cooperation with the Techniker Krankenkasse (TK), DAK-Gesundheit and other partners such as the University Medical Center Frankfurt and the Catholic University of Mainz.

Individual care through telemedicine approaches

A central element of the INSPIRE project is the individual coordination of therapy programs for Parkinson's patients. Advanced Practice Nurses assume responsibility for conducting in-depth assessments of the individual medical situation. These assessments are used to create tailor-made treatment and care plans, which are adapted in close consultation with the treating specialists.

Another innovative aspect of the project is the use of a telemedicine platform for communication and documentation. This platform enables, among other things, continuous evaluation and adjustment of therapy progress, which ensures needs-oriented care for patients. As part of this telemedicine-supported evaluation and coordination function, the care team can react quickly to current changes in the patient's health status.

Integration of the latest technologies

The fusion of digital technologies with telemedicine solutions opens up new possibilities for the treatment of Parkinson's. Portable motion sensors (wearables) continuously record patient complaints. These sensors provide timely data that allows the medical team to respond immediately if symptoms worsen or fluctuate significantly.

In addition, the use of telemedicine enables precise adjustment of brain stimulators remotely. Interdisciplinary case conferences ensure that advanced therapy options such as deep brain stimulation are discussed in an informed manner. Patients who are cared for as part of the PARKLINK program can also take part in relevant studies at the LMU Klinikum, which improves access to the latest findings in Parkinson's research.

This collaborative effort between different disciplines and the comprehensive involvement of relatives in the treatment process are crucial to the success of the project. Training for relatives and further training for specialists ensure that everyone involved is up to date with the latest medical developments. Structured training and uniform quality standards enable the latest findings to be effectively integrated into practice.

Overall, the “INSPIRE” research project shows how high-quality, patient-oriented care can be created for people with Parkinson’s by networking care, telemedicine and modern therapies. Further information and those interested can find out more details on the Saarland University website: uni-saarland.de, further project information is available inspire.parkinsonnetzwerk.de to find while telemedicine initiatives on LMU Hospital be addressed.