What is the Project "Expert Finder"?

The Expert Finder project is a project that aims to develop an interactive map of recommended doctors for RLS treatment, sleep laboratories and RLS support groups in all EARLS member countries.

The goal is to give those affected with RLS throughout Europe the opportunity to find support in their region. Through therapy, a qualified diagnosis in the sleep laboratory or through the exchange with other affected persons, the sleep and thus the quality of life of people with RLS can be relevantly improved in the long term.

Due to its innovative and patient-centred approach, the project has won the Brain, Mind and Pain Patient-Centred Innovation Grant 2022 http://bmp-grant.eu/

Who benefits from the “Expert Finder”?

This project benefits RLS patients who are looking for support and therapy options to alleviate their suffering from the disease and sleep better at night. Doctors, sleep labs and self-help groups that help sufferers and are made visible through the "Expert finder". The “Expert Finder” relieves the workload of the many volunteers of the national patient associations who put a lot of time and effort into the individual requests for help.

How the “Expert Finder”works

The search function allows the affected people to enter their region, and the map shows the hits in the nearby area. Doctors, sleep labs and self-help groups appear in different icons and colours. If a hit is clicked on, the contact window opens. The map shows doctors who are recommended by RLS patients as competent practitioners. In this way, those affected are actively involved in the project. Each EARLS member organization embeds or links to the map on its website. The map works in the local language. Affected people are invited to share their recommendations on the “Expert Finder” website.

How we involve those affected

We will call on RLS patients to name their "experts" via the national European patient organisations.  After the pilot project is completed, a test run of the “Expert Finder” will take place and it will be optimised according to feedback from RLS patients. In addition, RLS patients will be continuously asked to give feedback on the “Expert Finder” and to report new contacts.

Do you want to become part of the Expert Finder?

Doctors, sleep labs and self-help groups can register here. Become part of the Expert Finder.