Department heading

The research project "PIK InterWork - Management of Processes, Informationand Competencesin Regional Networks" is a joint research project of the University of Koblenz-Landau and the Koblenz University of Applied Sciences with an interdisciplinary research team, extended by scientists from the Fulda University of Applied Sciences and the provadis University of Applied Sciences in Frankfurt.
One of the networks investigated and supported is the BrustZentrum Mittelrhein (Central Rhine Breast Centre), which consists of eight independent clinics and associated medical facilities. The BrustZentrum Mittelrhein is a representative company network in the growth phase that is to sharpen its profile in the course of its further development. A special challenge in this context is the joint certification of the BrustZentrum Mittelrhein. In the course of the certification process, the InterWork project will, among other things, provide support in the documentation of treatment pathways and administrative processes. In a sub-project integrated into this, the InterWork team is working on networking the Breast Centre with physicians in private practice. The InterWork project and the Central Rhine Breast Centre decided to cooperate in May 2006.

The merger of eight hospitals in the northern Rhineland-Palatinate and several institutes and specialised practices from the fields of radiology and radiotherapy, oncology, pathology and psycho-oncology to form the so-called BrustZentrum Mittelrhein (Central Rhine Breast Centre) took place in April 2005. This complied with the requirements of the European Society of Mastology of 2000, according to which women should only be treated in breast centres if each participating surgeon performs 50 breast cancer operations per year himself/herself and if 150 primary diagnosed breast carcinomas requiring surgery can be proven per year. The aim of concentrating and merging clinics into networks is to improve the quality of prevention, diagnosis, therapy and aftercare of breast cancer, thus ensuring comprehensive, qualified treatment of breast cancer. The achievement of the goal is to be ensured by adherence to the quality guidelines of the German Cancer Society (DKG) and the German Society for Senology (DGS) and proof of certification of the breast centres.

In October 2006, the University of Applied Sciences Fulda was accepted as an associated partner in the project plan of the network research in order to develop a concept for the integration of the patient perspective into the current research project.

In the course of student case work by 17 students of the University of Applied Sciences Fulda (5th semester Bachelor - Nursing), patients were asked about their experiences with the BrustZentrum Mittelrhein in the context of care, treatment and quality. Two student theses resulted from the cooperation. In a study that is still in progress, the information needs and wishes of women with breast cancer are being investigated in relation to the BrustZentrum Mittelrhein. The study should provide information about what information women want, when they want it and from whom. Initial findings suggest that special attention needs to be paid to the information policy of doctors in private practice.

Hass, B., Jung, R.H, Simon, C (eds.) in cooperation with H. M. Bleses (2010): Management in regional networks. Fundamentals, Applications, Perspectives Aachen: Shaker

Bleses, H. M. (2010). Clinic - networks: Initiated from outside - designed from within. Reflections on the design of networking. In: Hass, B., Jung, R.H, Simon, C (eds.) in cooperation with Helma M. Bleses: Management in regional networks. Fundamentals, Applications, Perspectives. Aachen: Shaker

Bleses, H. M., Lindermann, N., Heming, M. (2010). Insights and prospects - clinic network at a glance. The BrustZentrum Mittelrhein in the development process. In: Hass, B., Jung, R.H, Simon, C (eds.) in cooperation with Helma M. Bleses: Management in Regional Networks. Fundamentals, Applications, Perspectives Aachen: Shaker