Care Organization:a Re-Thinking EXpedition in search for Sustainability (R-5106)

The sustainability of the Flemish health systems is under pressure from growth in medical consumption. Integrated care is seen as an important new method to help parts of the health sector change into a more demand-driven, patient centered and cost-conscious system. Integrated care is "a concept bringing together inputs, delivery, management and organization of services related to diagnosis, treatment, care, rehabilitation and health promotion. Integration is a means to improve the services in relation to access, quality, user satisfaction and efficiency" (WHO).The necessary reconfiguration of (parts of) the mainly supply-driven health care system of the Flemish Community requires a comprehensive and multidisciplinary approach to implement integrated care. However, such a reconfiguration must be based on theoretical understanding of this approach and on research findings. This project proposal focuses on 'integrated care' for patients with need for long term and chronic care. The goal of the project is to identify future options for Flanders and how lower-cost and higher-quality services could be provided.

Keywords:integrated care

Disciplines:Laboratory medicine, Palliative care and end-of-life care, Regenerative medicine, Public health care, Public health sciences, Public health services, Nursing

Project type:Collaboration project