The digital eczema centre utrecht.
The University Medical Centre Utrecht (UMC Utrecht) has developed an eczema portal that combines e-consulting, monitoring and self-management training by a dermatology nurse online for patients and parents of young children with atopic dermatitis (AD). Patient satisfaction with the portal was high. It could be extended to become a Digital Eczema Centre for multidisciplinary collaboration between health-care providers from different locations and the patient. Before starting the construction of the Digital Eczema Centre, the feasibility was examined by carrying out a business case analysis. The purposes, strength and weaknesses showed that the Digital Eczema Centre offered opportunities to improve care for patients with AD. The financial analysis resulted in a medium/best case scenario with a positive result of euro50-240,000 over a period of five years. We expect that the Digital Eczema Centre will increase the accessibility and quality of care. The web-based patient record and the digital chain-of-care promote the involvement of patients, parents and multidisciplinary teams as well as the continuity and coordination of care.
van Os-Medendorp
Harmieke
H
Dermatology/Allergology Department, UMC Utrecht, The Netherlands. h.vanosmedendorp@umcutrecht.nl
van Veelen
Carien
C
Hover
Maaike
M
Eland-de Kok
Petra
P
Bruijnzeel-Koomen
Carla
C
Sonnevelt
Gert-Jan
GJ
Mensing
Geert
G
Pasmans
Suzanne
S
D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000191:economics; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000451:nursing / Q000628:therapy*; D003880:Dermatology / Q000191:economics*; D004485:Eczema; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000592:standards; D006782:Hospitals, Special / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D010348:Patient Care Team; D012984:Software / Q000191:economics