Schmerzklinik Kiel

What Schmerzklinik Kiel does

Schmerzklinik Kiel is a privately held (GmbH & Co. KG) specialized pain clinic in Kiel, Germany, founded in 1997 by Prof. Dr. Hartmut Göbel as a scientific model project from University Hospital Kiel. It treats chronic migraine, tension-type headache, cluster headache, medication-overuse headache, and neuropathic pain using an integrated multimodal therapy approach combining neurology, behavioral medicine, psychology, physiotherapy, and sports therapy. The clinic operates inpatient and outpatient programs at a single facility licensed under §108 SGB V and admitted to the Schleswig-Holstein hospital plan since late 2013, billing under the multimodal pain therapy OPS code 8-918. It treats approximately 1,500 patients per year, of whom roughly 75% originate from outside Schleswig-Holstein or abroad, and reports 96%+ patient satisfaction, 82% restoration of work capacity, and 35% cost reduction versus comparable treatment pathways.

The clinic's business model rests on statutory (GKV) and private (PKV) reimbursement for multimodal pain therapy episodes, supplemented by ancillary guest-room (€58–€73/night) and parking fees. To broaden reach, it operates a nationwide Netzwerk of 400+ affiliated outpatient pain specialists (Netzpartner) and maintains integrated care contracts with multiple statutory and private health insurers including Techniker Krankenkasse, AOK Schleswig-Holstein, Barmer, HEK, DAK, and 25+ BKK funds, including a Spezialversorgungsvertrag for CGRP antibody therapies. Digital and ancillary products include the Migräne-App (launched October 2016 in cooperation with TK), audio relaxation programs, and the Headbook patient community forum. The clinic also co-operates with the University of Kiel on the Master of Migraine and Headache Medicine (MMHM) academic program (launched Winter 2021/22), was designated a DGS Excellence Center in 2026, and received the Healthcare Networker Award in 2012.

Name

Schmerzklinik Kiel

Legal name

Schmerzklinik Kiel GmbH & Co. KG

Website

https://schmerzklinik.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Schmerzklinik Kiel is a German specialized pain clinic treating ~1,500 chronic migraine and headache patients per year via integrated multimodal neurological-behavioral therapy, operating a nationwide Netzwerk of 400+ outpatient pain specialists under integrated care contracts with major statutory and private health insurers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialised Pain Management and Neurology Services

NAICS

Other Ambulatory Health Care Services (6219)

SIC

Services-Offices & Clinics Of Doctors Of Medicine (8011), Services-General Medical & Surgical Hospitals, Nec (8062), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Headache & Migraine Medicine (HLAKAIAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Pain Medicine (Interventional/Neuropathic Pain) (HLAKAIAM), Pain Management Clinics (Interventional & Medical) (HLAFABAH), Neurology Telemedicine Platforms (HLALAGAC)

Keywords

• Multimodal pain therapy
• Migraine treatment services
• Headache disorder care
• Integrated care programs
• Neurological pain medicine

Headquarters

HQ city

Kiel

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Medical Treatment Services (Stationary): The clinic is a licensed hospital (§ 108 SGB V) and planked hospital in Schleswig-Holstein. Revenue is generated through billing of medical treatment services to statutory health insurance (GKV) and private health insurance (PKV). Treatment is covered for patients meeting the criteria for multimodal pain therapy under OPS code 8-918.
2. Medical Treatment Services (Outpatient): Outpatient treatment services billed through integrated care contracts with participating health insurance companies, as well as private pay for services not covered by insurance.
3. Guest Room Accommodation: The clinic offers guest rooms for accompanying persons, outpatients, and visitors at 73 EUR/day (single) or 58 EUR/day (double, per person), including breakfast, WLAN, and VAT. This provides ancillary revenue for the facility.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

Schmerzklinik Kiel is a specialised neurological-behavioral medicine pain clinic that delivers integrated multimodal pain therapy for chronic migraine, all forms of headache disorders, neuropathic pain, and related chronic pain conditions through inpatient (stationäre) and outpatient (ambulante) programs at its Kiel facility. The clinic coordinates care nationwide through a network of more than 400 outpatient pain specialists and integrated care contracts with major German health insurers, and extends its offering through digital tools such as the Migräne-App, specialised relaxation audio programs, and the Headbook patient community.

Product overview

Schmerzklinik Kiel operates as a specialized neurological-behavioral medicine pain clinic offering a comprehensive ecosystem of clinical services and digital health products for migraine, headache, and chronic pain treatment. The core offering includes integrated multimodal pain therapy delivered through inpatient and outpatient programs at the Kiel facility, supplemented by the Migräne-App for mobile headache tracking, Entspannungs-CDs for audio-based relaxation therapy, and Headbook as an online patient community. The clinic also supports the academic Master of Migraine and Headache Medicine program at University of Kiel and maintains a nationwide network of over 400 pain specialists for integrated care coordination. Treatment specialties cover migraine with and without aura, chronic tension-type headaches, medication-overuse headaches, cluster headaches, neuropathic pain, and other chronic pain conditions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Migräne-App: Digital mobile application for personal documentation and self-monitoring of headache and migraine events, developed in cooperation with experts from Schmerzklinik Kiel, the nationwide headache treatment network, and the Techniker Krankenkasse.
• Headbook
• Master of Migraine and Headache Medicine (MMHM)
• Cluster-KS-Competence-Center

Products and services

• Stationäre Multimodale Schmerztherapie (Inpatient Multimodal Pain Therapy) Multimodal inpatient pain therapy program delivered at the licensed Kiel facility (Plankrankenhaus under §108 SGB V) for adult patients with chronic migraine, headache disorders, neuropathic pain, and chronic musculoskeletal pain who require escalated care beyond outpatient treatment.
• Ambulante Behandlung - Kopfschmerzzentrum (Outpatient Headache Center) Ambulatory headache center at the Kiel facility delivering diagnostic evaluation, treatment planning, and follow-up care for headache and migraine patients on a scheduled appointment basis.
• Cluster-Kopfschmerz-Competence-Center Specialised center within Schmerzklinik Kiel dedicated to diagnosis and treatment of cluster headaches - one of the most severe pain conditions in humans, characterised by unilateral attacks in the eye, forehead, or temple area.
• Spezial Kinder und Jugendliche (Specialised Program for Children and Adolescents) Specialised treatment program for children and adolescents suffering from migraine and headache disorders, including accommodation of parents during treatment.
• Migräne-App (Migraine App) Digital mobile application for iOS and Android that allows migraine and headache patients to record symptoms, duration, intensity, and accompanying factors, visualise tracking data graphically, and export records for use in clinical consultations.
• Entspannungs-CDs (Relaxation CDs) Audio relaxation programs specifically developed by Prof. Hartmut Göbel for preventive treatment of migraine and headaches, including Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR) according to Jacobson, Mental Relaxation, Deep Relaxation through Active Breathing, and Imagery Therapy.
• Headbook Migräneforum Online discussion platform, forum, and Live-Chat for migraine and headache patients enabling patient-to-patient support and expert interaction, moderated by the clinic.
• Master of Migraine and Headache Medicine (MMHM) Part-time master's degree program in Migraine and Headache Medicine (MMHM) offered at the University of Kiel in cooperation with Schmerzklinik Kiel, providing academic and clinical training in migraine and headache medicine.
• Gästezimmer (Guest Room Accommodation) Guest rooms for accompanying persons, outpatients, and visitors at 73 EUR/day (single) or 58 EUR/day (double per person), including breakfast, WLAN, and statutory VAT; children up to 6 years stay free when sharing parents' room.

Quantifiable outcome

• Patient satisfaction rate of 96%+, demonstrating high quality of care and patient experience.
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered foundational, flagship and core.

• Universität Kiel (University of Kiel)foundationalStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1997The Schmerzklinik Kiel was founded in 1997 as a scientific model project from the University Clinic Kiel (Uniklinik Kiel) and received contractual support from AOK Schleswig-Holstein. The clinic maintains academic ties through research and the Master of Migraine and Headache Medicine (MMHM) program.
• Techniker Krankenkasse (TK)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor health insurance partner with integrated care contract for coordinated migraine and headache treatment. The TK-adapted concept enabled nationwide care through the treatment network. The clinic also cooperated with TK on developing the Migraine App.
• AOK Schleswig-HolsteincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional health insurance partner that provided initial contractual support for the clinic's founding in 1997 and continues to provide integrated care coverage.
• Barmer ErsatzkassecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealth insurance partner with integrated care contract for headache and pain treatment under § 140a ff SGB V.
• Hanseatische Krankenkasse (HEK)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealth insurance partner with integrated care contract for coordinated pain treatment.
• BKK Network (Various Betriebskrankenkassen)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOver 25 Betriebskrankenkassen (company health insurance funds) including BKK Akzo Nobel, BKK Deutsche Bank, BKK exklusiv, BKK Freudenberg, BKK Miele, BKK Pfalz, BKK RWE, pronova BKK, and others with integrated care contracts.
• Knappschaft Bahn SeecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealth insurance partner with integrated care contract.
• Landwirtschaftliche Krankenkasse Schleswig-Holstein und HamburgcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgricultural health insurance fund with integrated care contract for pain treatment.
• E.ON BetriebskrankenkassecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate health insurance with integrated care contract.
• Deutsche Angestelltenkrankenkasse (DAK)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor health insurance partner with integrated care coverage.
• Nationwide Treatment Network (Netzpartner)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNetwork of over 400 outpatient pain specialists (neurologists, anesthetists, orthopedists, general practitioners) across Germany who participate in coordinated integrated care. Network partners provide pre-treatment and post-treatment care and are searchable via the clinic's online directory.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Schön Klinik: Germany's largest family-run group of specialist hospitals, with dedicated neurology, pain medicine, and rehabilitation facilities. Directly comparable as a specialized hospital operator running integrated clinical programs with strong physician leadership and outcome orientation.
• Universitätsklinikum Dresden - Schmerzklinik: University-based specialized pain clinic at one of Germany's leading academic medical centers, providing multimodal pain therapy. Directly comparable as a specialty pain treatment center operating within the German statutory system with academic and clinical expertise.

Regional players

• MediClin: German hospital and rehabilitation operator with neurological and pain-related programs across multiple sites. Comparable for its German inpatient and outpatient model for chronic conditions with statutory reimbursement, though less specialized in headache medicine specifically.
• Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein (UKSH): Public university hospital that originally spawned Schmerzklinik Kiel as a 1997 model project. Comparable for its regional role in neurology and pain care within the Schleswig-Holstein hospital plan and statutory reimbursement framework.
• Median Kliniken: Germany's largest operator of rehabilitation clinics with programs in neurological and pain rehabilitation. Comparable for its focus on chronic pain recovery in a German inpatient setting with statutory reimbursement, but biased toward post-acute rehab rather than acute multimodal pain therapy.
• Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin - Schmerzambulanz: Germany's largest university hospital with a dedicated pain center providing multimodal pain therapy and research. Comparable for its academic and multimodal pain therapy approach within the German statutory system, though operating as a public university hospital rather than a privately held specialty clinic.

Broad incumbents

• Helios Kliniken: Germany's largest private hospital operator with broad inpatient and outpatient services including neurology and pain medicine. Comparable as a large-scale hospital network with statutory reimbursement contracts, though pain medicine is one of many service lines rather than a focused specialty.
• Sana Kliniken: Large German private hospital group with a broad mix of inpatient specialties including neurology, orthopedics, and pain therapy. Comparable for its multi-site private hospital model and statutory insurance reimbursement framework, though broader and less specialty-focused.
• Asklepios Kliniken: One of Germany's largest private hospital groups operating more than 150 facilities across multiple specialties including neurology and pain medicine. Comparable as a broad hospital incumbent with statutory and private reimbursement exposure across Germany.

Emerging players

• Newsenselab (M-sense): German digital health company offering a CE-marked migraine and headache digital therapeutic (app). Comparable as an emerging German player at the intersection of migraine care and digital tools, overlapping with Schmerzklinik's Migraine App product.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/schmerzklinik1
• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=KHrXsrxdUrQ&list=PL7ShABVQMi5A6f5LrMqBr96PzCn0Tx5fB
• Facebookfacebook.com/migraene.klinik
• Instagraminstagram.com/schmerzklinik_kiel

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Schmerzklinik Kiel