BMG-Versorgungsstudie: ACCESS

Dr. Meike Dirks presented the ACCESS study, which focuses on the care of severely ill ME/CFS and post-COVID patients, implemented as part of the Federal Ministry of Health’s (BMG) healthcare research programme. At the core of the project lies the examination of patients who are no longer able to leave their homes or are bedridden. The project starteted with a prevalence estimation. The second phase involves home visits and a healthcare needs assessment for 100 patients diagnosed with ME/CFS according to Canadian Consensus Criteria (CCC) and a Bell Score of ≤ 30. To date, over 500 patient inquiries have been received for this component. The third phase of the project consists of a complementary study in which patients are randomised into either an intervention group or a control group. In the intervention group, patients receive monthly telemedical support that involves contact with the patient, their caregiver, and—if necessary—their primary care physician. In the control group, no active contact is initiated. The primary endpoint is the progression of functional status over a one-year period. Additionally, the benefits, impact on care delivery, and cost-effectiveness of the intervention are being investigated. The long-term objective is to determine whether the model developed within the framework of ACCESS is suitable as a standardised, telemedically supported care pathway for severely ill patients.