Consultancy
Background
Since July 2009, various care providers in the Zutphen region have been working together within the Dementia Network. The aim is to improve the quality of dementia care for both clients and informal carers. In addition, the network seeks to create more efficient working processes and respond more effectively to regional care demands. The collaboration also provides scope for demand-driven care, aligned with the changing structure of healthcare in the Netherlands.
The reorientation of long-term care, including the transition from the AWBZ to the WMO, marked an important moment for the network. In Zutphen, several networks existed with overlapping participants. This led to the desire to merge them into a single network that supports multiple target groups, including dementia care, palliative care and geriatrics. This repositioning required a new approach and broader collaboration with future partners.
Care pathway development
In 2011, BPM Consult was engaged to map out the entire dementia care pathway. At the same time, a set of requirements was drawn up for digital support. It quickly became clear that these were two separate tracks. The care pathway was therefore developed first. In collaboration with all involved parties, the process of integrated dementia care was visualised and documented in a widely supported care pathway plan.
The approach began with engaging a broad group of participants, including municipalities, welfare organisations and home care providers. Stakeholders from three municipalities were interviewed. In three joint sessions, the final integrated care process was established. The programme lasted approximately nine months and resulted in a care pathway that is still used daily within the region.
Implementation capacity
The care pathway has been incorporated into the annually developed integrated care plan. This plan forms the basis for a logical organisation of integrated care within the region. Despite temporary stagnation due to policy changes, the care pathway remains up to date and is adjusted where necessary. The collaboration with BPM Consult helped the parties to look beyond their individual interests and jointly focus on the added value for the region.
The municipalities of Zutphen and Lochem will soon implement joint policies, while Bronckhorst will follow its own course. This requires a repositioning of the network. Consideration is being given to broadening the network’s scope to include ‘frail older people’ rather than focusing solely on ‘people with dementia’. This would mean expanding the number of care pathways and the range of involved care partners.
Future vision
In three years’ time, the ambition is to have a knowledge network for older people in the region, with specific care pathways for different target groups. This network will not only include professional care, but also informal support networks around older people. Municipalities will take on a clearer role within the care structure. This vision is intended to lead to more efficient purchasing of care and better support for vulnerable older people.
If the project were to be repeated, the partners would start the reorientation phase earlier and define more clearly the scope of the separate projects. The Dementia Network would also be positioned as a knowledge network from the outset. This would provide earlier insight into the network’s regional relevance and enable more effective steering of collaboration and care procurement.
