General Questions
PriCare.Net is a nationwide research consortium focusing on primary healthcare provision for people seeking asylum in reception facilities across Germany. Within PriCare.Net, healthcare providers, responsible authorities, and data protection–responsible bodies of reception facilities using Ref.Care, as well as academic institutions, collaborate closely. The PriCare.Net research consortium governs the use of anonymised healthcare data generated through the surveillance module in Ref.Care. Conducting local analyses via the surveillance module is not possible without membership in the research consortium.
PriCare.Net emerged from the PriCare project (2016–2020), which was funded by the Federal Ministry of Health and addressed healthcare provision for people seeking asylum in reception facilities across Germany.
The project aimed to improve documentation and quality of care through the development of the Ref.Care software, which enables data protection–compliant medical documentation and secure exchange of patient data. PriCare.Net institutionalises the structures required for the use of the software and for the analysis of care data for research and surveillance purposes.
The research consortium was initially established informally in 2016 and has been formally governed by a consortium agreement since 2020.
The consortium contributes to improving the evidence base on health and primary healthcare provision for people seeking asylum during their stay in reception facilities. To this end, it ensures the quality of medical documentation within Ref.Care.
In addition, PriCare.Net provides the foundation for regular surveillance of health and healthcare provision in participating reception facilities as well as for broader research activities. Within this framework, health indicators underlying surveillance are further developed and agreed upon, potential research projects are discussed and approved, and the scientific use of results is governed.
Questions on Consortium Governance Bodies
PriCare.Net is structured into four governance bodies:
1. the Consortium Lead (including the spokesperson and deputy lead),
2. the Consortium Assembly, consisting of one representative from each consortium partner,
3. the Data Use and Access Committee (DUAC), and the Advisory Board.
The aim of the PriCare.Net consortium is the joint development and adaptation of the indicator set used for reporting in reception facilities as well as for statistics and research.
All consortium members may propose and justify new indicators and research questions. These proposals are subsequently reviewed by the elected Data Use and Access Committee (DUAC), which assesses them with regard to scientific quality, feasibility, and ethical considerations.
After issuing a recommendation, the DUAC forwards the proposed indicators and research initiatives to the Consortium Assembly, where consortium members vote on their inclusion in reporting or research activities.
The Advisory Board consists of representatives of public authorities responsible for participating reception facilities within the framework of their mandate to ensure medical care (§4 AsylbLG), but who are not data protection–responsible entities, as well as representatives of the Robert Koch Institute. The Advisory Board may provide substantive input and propose topics related to surveillance activities or further research questions within the consortium.
The Consortium Lead represents the consortium externally, coordinates public relations activities, communicates results from cross-site surveillance, facilitates strategic decision-making processes, chairs Consortium Assembly meetings, and coordinates the preparation of cross-cutting funding applications, research reports, and scientific projects.
The Consortium Assembly consists of representatives from each consortium partner as well as members of the Advisory Board. It serves as the forum for discussion and consensus-building on surveillance (statistics) and research activities within the collaborative network of healthcare providers, in cooperation with academic institutions.
In addition, the Consortium Assembly enables cross-site exchange among Ref.Care users and facilitates feedback from practice.
Questions on Participation
Membership is granted upon written approval by the Consortium Lead and submission of a signed declaration of accession by the new partner. If you are interested in joining the PriCare.Net consortium, please contact us at:
pricare-net.AMED@med.uni-heidelberg.de
We will get back to you as soon as possible.
Facilities providing care for people seeking asylum and participating as PriCare.Net consortium members can use surveillance on demand—i.e. the regular local analysis of their own care data at the push of a button.
In addition, all PriCare.Net consortium members are invited to actively participate in research activities within the network. Further information can be found here
Consortium Assemblies are generally held once per year. If you are interested in participating, please contact us at:
pricare-net.AMED@med.uni-heidelberg.de
We will respond promptly.