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. 2023 Nov 9;10:1251915. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2023.1251915

Table 4.

Network SWOT analysis—opportunities and threats.

Competence network Long COVID Rhein-Neckar Long COVID network Ludwigsburg
Opportunities (external) What opportunities does the environment offer?
Long COVID

  • - Demand still exists

  • - Not a competing player

Effects across health systems

  • - Public and press relations with resulting in increased awareness of Long COVID and ME/CFS.1

  • - Mobilization of external funding opportunities

Transfer to other diseases

  • - Transfer to ME/CFS1

Roles/Development

  • - University Hospital in the role of “Science and Networking”

  • - Joint presentation as “Regional Group

  • - Further development of intersectoral care concepts

  • - Location advantage through the establishment of (intersectoral) networks

 Long COVID

  • - Structured care

  • - Improved resource allocation

  • - contacts can be reached by externs

Effects across health systems

  • - Improved external/public awareness and support

  • - Mobilization of external funding opportunities

Transfer to other diseases

  • - Awareness/support for other fatigue disorders, e.g., ME/CFS1

  • - Encouraging engagement with a “difficult topic” that is often rejected

Roles/Development

  • - Dynamic adaptability

  • - Networking with other networks

  • - Institutionalization

  • - Experience can support research
Risks (external) What risks does the environment pose?
General resources

  • - Possible creation of competitive structures

  • - Insufficient attention to ME/CFS1 and post-COVID-19 vaccination syndrome

Resources of the network

  • - Limited growth potential as long as resources are limited

  • - Withdrawal of the university sector from coordination/organization

Misuse

  • - Lack of consideration of Long COVID subgroups

 General resources

  • - Inhibiting the establishment of alternative care structures

  • - Dependence on the already financially strained health care system

  • - Encouraging the emergence of a counter-movement/rejection

  • - Reduced support for other, competing diseases

Resources of the network

  • - Increased demand with strain on resources

  • - Unfulfillable, excessive expectations

  • - Limited idealism with risk of project abandonment

  • - Contempt due to preoccupation with Long COVID

  • - Instrumentalization for the use of social services

Misuse

  • - Mismanagement of patients with other health problems

  • - Risk of fragmentation of care due to specialization

1ME/CFS, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.