Versorgungsnahe

Versorgungsnahe is an adjective used in German primarily in the health care sector to describe activities, research, or measures that are closely linked to the provision of care within the health system. The term emphasizes proximity to everyday patient care and practical implementation, as opposed to purely theoretical or laboratory work.

In science and policy, the phrase versorgungsnahe Forschung refers to applied health services research that investigates care processes, outcomes, and implementation in real-world settings. It includes quality improvement projects, evaluation of care pathways, and studies of how guidelines are adopted in routine practice. It is often funded by federal ministries and research organizations to shorten the gap between knowledge and practice and to enhance the relevance of research for clinicians and patients.

The concept extends to other care-related activities, such as versorgungsnahe Dienstleistungen (care coordination, case management) or versorgungsnahe IT systems designed to support clinicians and patients in daily care. The overarching aim is to generate findings and tools that can be readily integrated into care delivery, improving efficiency, effectiveness, and patient outcomes.

Critically, the term is sometimes used loosely, and its exact meaning can vary by context. In policy discourse, it signals a preference for research and actions with immediate applicability, but challenges include aligning research designs with practice realities, ensuring rigorous methods, and securing sustainable funding. In German-language health policy, versorgungsnahe approaches are seen as a means to make health services research more action-oriented and directly transferable to everyday care.