The ParkinsonNet concept: development, implementation and initial experience.
The quality and efficiency of allied health care in Parkinson's disease (PD) must be improved. We have developed the ParkinsonNet concept: a professional regional network within the catchment area of hospitals. ParkinsonNet aims to: (1) improve PD-specific expertise among allied health personnel, by training a selected number of therapists according to evidence-based guidelines; (2) enhance the accuracy of referrals by neurologists; (3) boost patient volumes per therapist, by stimulating preferred referral to ParkinsonNet therapists; and (4) stimulate collaboration between therapists, neurologists, and patients. We describe the procedures for developing a ParkinsonNet network. Our initial experience with this new concept is promising, showing an increase in PD-specific and a steady rise in the patient volume of individual therapists.
Nijkrake
Maarten J
MJ
Department of Neurology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre (RUNMC), Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Keus
Samyra H J
SH
Overeem
Sebastiaan
S
Oostendorp
Rob A B
RA
Vlieland
Thea P M Vliet
TP
Mulleners
Wim
W
Hoogerwaard
Edo M
EM
Bloem
Bastiaan R
BR
Munneke
Marten
M
D000328:Adult; D000488:Allied Health Personnel; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000628:therapy*; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome