Policy papers
Care delivery pathways for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in England and the Netherlands: a comparative study
Authors:
Cecile MA Utens ,
Department of Respiratory Medicine, Catharina-hospital Eindhoven
About Cecile
Msc
Department of Respiratory Disease, Catharina-hospital, Eindhoven, the Netherlands, P.O. Box 1350 5602 ZA Eindhoven, the Netherlands
Department of General Practice, School for Public Health and Primary Care, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands, P.O. Box 666, 6200 MD Maastricht, the Netherlands
J AM Maarse,
About J
Department of Health Organisation Policy and Economics, School for Public Health and Primary Care (CAPHRI), Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands, P.O. Box 666, 6200 MD Maastricht, the Netherlands
Onno CP van Schayck,
About Onno
Department of General Practice, School for Public Health and Primary Care, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands, P.O. Box 666, 6200 MD Maastricht, the Netherlands
Boudewijn LP Maesen,
About Boudewijn
Department of Respiratory Medicine, Orbis Medical Centre, Sittard, the Netherlands, P.O. Box 5500, 3130 MB Sittard, the Netherlands
Maureen PMH Rutten-van Mölken,
About Maureen
Institure for Medical Technology Assessment, Erasmus University, Rotterdam, the Netherlands, P.O. Box, 1738, 3000 DR Rotterdam, the Netherlands
Frank WJM Smeenk
About Frank
Department of Respiratory Disease, Catharina-hospital, Eindhoven, the Netherlands, P.O. Box 1350, 5602 ZA Eindhoven, the Netherlands
Abstract
Introduction: A remarkable difference in care delivery pathways for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is the presence of hospital-at-home for COPD exacerbations in England and its absence in the Netherlands. The objective of this paper is to explain this difference.
Methods: Descriptive COPD statistics and care delivery pathways on all care levels within the institutional context, followed by a comparison of care delivery pathways and an explanation of the difference with regard to hospital-at-home.
Results: The Netherlands and England show broad similarities in their care delivery pathways for COPD patients. A major difference is the presence of hospital-at-home for COPD exacerbations in England and its absence in the Netherlands. Three possible explanations for this difference are presented: differences in the urgency for alternatives (higher urgency for alternative treatment models in England), the differences in funding (funding in England facilitated the development of hospital-at-home) and the differences in the substitution of tasks to nurses (substitution to nurses has taken place to a larger extent in England).
Discussion and Conclusion: The difference between the Netherlands and England regarding hospital-at-home for COPD exacerbations can be explained in three ways. Hospital-at-home has proved to be a safe alternative for hospital care for selected patients, and should be considered as a treatment option for COPD exacerbations in the Netherlands.
How to Cite:
Utens CM, Maarse JA, van Schayck OC, Maesen BL, Rutten-van Mölken MP, Smeenk FW. Care delivery pathways for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in England and the Netherlands: a comparative study. International Journal of Integrated Care. 2012;12(2):None. DOI: http://doi.org/10.5334/ijic.811
Published on
18 May 2012.
Peer Reviewed
Downloads
