EurOOHnet-the European research network for out-of-hours primary health care.
OBJECTIVE
European countries face similar challenges in the provision of health care. Demographic factors like ageing, population growth, changing patient behaviour, and lack of work force lead to increasing demands, costs, and overcrowding of out-of-hours (OOH) care (i.e. primary care services, emergency departments (EDs), and ambulance services). These developments strain services and imply safety risks. In the last few decades, countries have been re-organizing their OOH primary health care services. AIM AND SCOPE OF THE NETWORK: We established a European research network for out-of-hours primary health care (EurOOHnet), which aims to transfer knowledge, share experiences, and conduct research. Combining research competencies and integrating results can generate a profound information flow to European researchers and decision makers in health policy, contributing towards feasible and high-quality OOH care. It also contributes to a more comparable performance level within European regions. CONDUCTED RESEARCH PROJECTS: The European research network aims to conduct mutual research projects. At present, three projects have been accomplished, among others concerning the diagnostic scope in OOH primary care services and guideline adherence for diagnosis and treatment of cystitis in OOH primary care.


CONCLUSIONS
Future areas of research will be organizational models for OOH care; appropriate use of the OOH services; quality of telephone triage; quality of medical care; patient safety issues; use of auxiliary personnel; collaboration with EDs and ambulance care; and the role of GPs in OOH care.
Radboud University Medical Center Nijmegen, Scientific Institute for Quality of Healthcare , the Netherlands.
Linda
L
Huibers
Hilde
H
Philips
Paul
P
Giesen
Roy
R
Remmen
Morten Bondo
MB
Christensen
Gunnar Tschudi
GT
Bondevik
D039602:After-Hours Care / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D000552:Ambulances / Q000458:organization & administration; D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards; D005060:Europe; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006801:Humans; D017146:Models, Organizational; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D011787:Quality of Health Care
emergency and out-of-hours care; health services; primary care; quality of health care; research network