Population health management in Belgium: a call-to-action and case study

BMC Health Services Research

Research

John Crombez¹  Fabian Demeure²  Ernst Rietzschel³  Peter Vanacker⁴  Steven Simoens⁵  Bert Vaes⁶  Sabina De Geest⁷  Stefan Teughels⁸  Michel P. Hermans⁹  Marijke Gielen^1,10  Thierry van der Schueren^1,11  Betty Steenkamer^1,12 

[1] Architecture of a Qualitative, Sustainable and Inclusive Health system (AQSIH), Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium;Cardiology Department, CHU UCL Mont-Godinne, Namur, Belgium;Department of Internal Medicine & Paediatrics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium;Biobanking and Cardiovascular Prevention, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium;Department of Neurology, AZ Groeninge, Kortrijk, Belgium;Department of Neurology, University Hospitals Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium;Department of Translational Neuroscience, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium;Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium;Department of Public Health and Primary Care, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium;Department of Public Health and Primary Care, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium;Department of Public Health, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland;Domus Medica, Antwerp, Belgium;Endocrinology & Nutrition, Cliniques universitaires St-Luc, Brussels, Belgium;Medical School, Catholic University of Louvain, Brussels, Belgium;Independent Health Insurance Funds, Brussels, Belgium;Société Scientifique de Médecine Générale, Brussels, Belgium;Stichting Gezondheidscentra Eindhoven - STROOMZ NL, Eindhoven, the Netherlands;

关键词: Population health management;    Barriers;    Lessons;    Implementation;    Belgium;    Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12913-023-09626-x

 received in 2022-09-27, accepted in 2023-05-31,  发布年份 2023

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundAlthough there are already success stories, population health management in Belgium is still in its infancy. A health system transformation approach such as population health management may be suited to address the public health issue of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, as this is one of the main causes of mortality in Belgium. This article aims to raise awareness about population health management in Belgium by: (a) eliciting barriers and recommendations for its implementation as perceived by local stakeholders; (b) developing a population health management approach to secondary prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease; and (c) providing a roadmap to introduce population health management in Belgium.MethodsTwo virtual focus group discussions were organized with 11 high-level decision makers in medicine, policy and science between October and December 2021. A semi-structured guide based on a literature review was used to anchor discussions. These qualitative data were studied by means of an inductive thematic analysis.ResultsSeven inter-related barriers and recommendations towards the development of population health management in Belgium were identified. These related to responsibilities of different layers of government, shared responsibility for the health of the population, a learning health system, payment models, data and knowledge infrastructure, collaborative relationships and community involvement. The introduction of a population health management approach to secondary prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease may act as a proof-of-concept with a view to roll out population health management in Belgium.ConclusionsThere is a need to instill a sense of urgency among all stakeholders to develop a joint population-oriented vision in Belgium. This call-to-action requires the support and active involvement of all Belgian stakeholders, both at the national and regional level.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© The Author(s) 2023