In the Netherlands acute care organisations are overstretched and overcrowded. The acute care networks involve different organisations, including Emergency Departments (EDs), General Practice... Show moreIn the Netherlands acute care organisations are overstretched and overcrowded. The acute care networks involve different organisations, including Emergency Departments (EDs), General Practice Cooperatives (GPCs), ambulance services, acute mental health services, and home care and nursing home organisations. Crowding gives rise to major problems in healthcare and is caused by a combination of factors. As the general population continues to age, so too does the burden on the shrinking working force. Another factor is the suboptimal use of acute care, as a relatively high proportion of acute care use goes to patients presenting problems that are considered to have low urgency. Furthermore, the large number of acute care organisations involved increases the fragmentation caused by healthcare providers working independently and with too little communication, which stands in the way of effective cooperation. Due to the large number of organisations involved, there are multiple entrance and exit routes for patients in acute care organisations. Effective communication and coordination between all stakeholders at different levels of an organizational structure is crucial to providing high quality acute care.The main objective of this thesis is to find clues how and where acute care in the Netherlands can be improved at all integration levels. Insight into the various mechanisms should enable us to maintain accessibility of acute care for all citizens in the future. Show less
Witte, P.B. de; Werner, S.; Braak, L.M. ter; Veeger, H.E.J.; Nelissen, R.G.H.H.; Groot, J.H. de 2014
