telaskoop2.0
telemedicine.general-practice.pain-management.in-partnership.2.0
Chronic pain causes a significant reduction in quality of life and social participation among those affected and should be considered a distinct medical condition. For many patients, primary care practices are the first point of contact. However, the diagnosis and treatment of chronic pain often require an interprofessional approach that takes into account all biopsychosocial stressors.
The predecessor project telaskoop (telemedicine.general practice.pain therapy.in cooperation) demonstrated that trilateral video consultations for pain management in general practice—involving patients and medical pain specialists connected via video—are technically feasible.
The follow-up project telaskoop 2.0 is now developing and evaluating an outpatient, interdisciplinary, and online-based pain assessment.
In addition to general practitioners’ offices, telaskoop2.0 also connects with local physical and mental health therapists:
Networking of all outpatient therapists through the creation of a digital platform for exchanging registration documents, sharing findings, and holding joint digital team meetings.
Standardized processes with digital registration, trilateral video consultations at the beginning and end for therapy planning. Individual diagnostic appointments on-site or digitally for physical and psychotherapy as well as social counseling, followed by a joint online therapy planning meeting.
The goal is to enable timely, location-independent, interprofessional diagnosis of chronic pain and to plan needs-based therapy together with the affected patients and the participating therapists. In collaboration with five primary care practices in South Baden, this new form of care is being developed and evaluated as part of the telaskoop 2.0 project.
The Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, and Integration of the State of Baden-Württemberg has commissioned the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Freiburg to carry out the project and has provided the funding.
Preparation and planning phase: May 2025 – May 2026
Project implementation in medical practices planned from 06/2026 through 04/2027
- Training materials are available online at any time
- Easy communication between all therapists
- Digital platform for the secure, rapid exchange of findings and registration documents
- Timely and location-independent, interprofessional pain diagnosis
- Gain expertise through the exchange of experiences
- Appropriate compensation for participating practices
For medical practices
The 5 participating primary care practices should, if possible, already be registered as research practices in FoPraNet Baden-Württemberg. One local physical therapy and psychotherapy practice may participate per primary care practice.
During the study period of approximately 6–8 months, 5 patients per general practice should be enrolled. A total of approximately 15 hours per practice should be scheduled for the following procedures:
Training: All information about the project is available on-demand via short video tutorials. Personal communication with the study team is possible via phone or video conference.
Installation of technical equipment: Hardware (microphone/camera) for the video consultations will be provided. The study team can assist with installation.
Procedure for consulting with 5 patients per practice:
Registration via the digital platform
Scheduling by the study team’s case manager
First pain video consultation at the primary care practice between the primary care physician, the patient, and the Interdisciplinary Pain Center via video link (duration approx. 15–20 minutes)
If indicated, individual diagnostic appointments as part of the study at outpatient physical therapy and psychotherapy practices, as well as, if necessary, with the Pain Center’s social worker. Appointment coordination by the study team
Shared digital file for documentation of findings
Interprofessional online case discussion with all therapists
Second video pain consultation at the primary care practice between primary care physicians, patients, and the Interdisciplinary Pain Center to plan further therapy (duration approx. 15 minutes)
Evaluation: All participants will receive online satisfaction surveys. Family medicine practices can use the FoPraNet digital infrastructure for this purpose.
Project Manager
Dr. Kristin Kieselbach
Medical Director, Interdisciplinary Pain Center, Medical Center – University of Freiburg
Board-Certified Specialist in Neurosurgery, Specialized Intensive Care, and Specialized Pain Management
Prof. Andy Maun
Director of the Institute of General Medicine, Medical Center – University of Freiburg
Board-certified in General Medicine, Ph.D. in Medical Science
andy.maun@uniklinik-freiburg.de
Phone: +49 (0) 761 270-72490
Project Coordination
Vera Fleig, M.D.
Specialist in Anesthesiology, Emergency Medicine, and Specialized Pain Management; currently pursuing advanced training in General Medicine; Research Associate at the Institute of General Medicine, Medical Center – University of Freiburg
vera.fleig@uniklinik-freiburg.de
Phone: +49 (0) 761 270-72490