Currently the German healthcare system does not have a generic structure to answer research questions in primary care through clinical studies. The DESAM-ForNet initiative was founded as an association of German Practice-Based Research Networks (PBRN), to propose an appropriate and feasible solution. Aim is the integration of distributed, consensual information from practices into a single point of contact. To this end, a consensus-based concept for a digital infrastructure was developed in cooperation with all partners involved. Based on a joint requirements analysis the new concept integrates the federal structure of the German health system and the existing research structures.
Keywords: German healthcare system; clinical research; primary care.