The role of the specialist physician in nursing homes: the Netherlands' experience.
BACKGROUND
Dutch nursing homes employ physicians who have completed a two year specialist training programme to become a qualified nursing home physician. This paper describes the origin of the profession of nursing home medicine in the context of Dutch nursing homes.


METHODS
Review of the history and development of the need for specialist physicians in care of residents in nursing homes. Examination of the competencies required and training available for physicians and the benefits of this arrangement in improving quality of care.


RESULTS
Relevant skills and competencies of the specialist physician in nursing homes are discussed. The role and tasks, and the nursing home physician's method of working and providing care are explained, as well as the benefits and disadvantages of organizing medical care in this way.


CONCLUSIONS
The benefits of a specialist physician are considered greater than the disadvantages. Specialist training for this role is considered to be highly desirable.
Hoek
J Frank
JF
Department of General Practice and Nursing Home Medicine, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Ribbe
Miel W
MW
Hertogh
Cees M P M
CM
van der Vleuten
Cees P M
CP
D000368:Aged; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate; D006801:Humans; D007326:Institutionalization; D009426:Netherlands; D009735:Nursing Homes; D010819:Physician's Role; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011361:Professional Competence; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000592:standards; D013038:Specialization