The “Development of a new integrated care organizational model for patients with complex needs in the Basque Country”. A new organization model for the care of multimorbid patients was defined, developed and deployed as part of the EU funded project ‘CareWell’. Several elements were identified as key factors: integrated care pathways agreed by all stakeholders, decision support tools, ICT services, training of professionals, development of an structured empowerment program for patients and caregivers (Kronik-ON) and a new mathematical model to predict the use of resources in mid-long term (“Predictive Modelling”). In the Basque Country, this new organizational model has had an impact on the provision of services to multimorbid patients. Through the prevention and promotion of health, as well as the empowerment of patients, it has promoted a transition from specialized and hospital care to primary care. Clinical effectiveness, economic analysis and the patient’s and professionals´ perspectives were assessed by quantitative and qualitative approaches. Satisfaction of both professionals and patients/caregivers has been demonstrated, whereas the profile of the use of services has moved from secondary care to primary. In fact, then number of hospitalizations and ED visits has decreased and the GP contacts have augmented.
Marisa Merino, from OSI Tolosaldea, Osakidetza and her team received their prize at the Gala Dinner in the Royal Hospital Kilmainham. They receive plaque and €1,000 in prize money. You can download their presentation here.
The Runner up Award with prize money of €500 was presented to John Howarth from Cumbria Partnership and Kay Worsley-Cox from the North-west Leadership Academy for their work ‘Citizen Led Healthcare – Learning from the Millom experience: An NHS North West Leadership Academy Project’. You can download their presentation here.
The Best Poster Award with prize money of €250 was presented to Clare Carroll from NUI Galway for her work on ‘Relationship Stages in Early Intervention Practice for Children with Disabilities’.
The IFIC Integrated Care Awards were selected based on quality of content, originality and quality of presentation. The awards are supported by the Foundation and are in recognition of the advancement of the science, knowledge and adoption of integrated care policy and practice.
Congratulations to everyone!