The role of prevention and integrated care in a future-proof healthcare system

 

Prevention's role in the 'disease iceberg' 

Curative care does not address this hidden part of the iceberg; this task falls to preventive health care. This part of care aims to protect, maintain and promote health [2,3]. A highly developed offer of cost-effective, preventive care can prevent the development of diseases as well as further complications in patients, thus allowing to avoid a loss of quality years of life. A quality and future-proof healthcare system thus has an interest in a good spread between preventive and curative healthcare. Despite this, only 2% of the total health budget in Belgium is invested in prevention [4].

The European average is around 3%. So while prevention across Europe remains a challenge, we are certainly not among the best in class [5]. This budget contrasts with the highly developed curative care system in our country, with a quality approach to acute syndromes thanks to high specialisation, freedom of choice and accessibility of care.

 

The intertwining of prevention and integrated care

Besides prevention, integrated care is also an important working point within our healthcare system; this is despite the introduction of some initiatives such as the Integrated Care Plan [6]. Integrated care implies that people experience continuity in care delivery: from health promotion and disease prevention, diagnosis and treatment, to disease management and palliative care. Preventive services also have an important role to play in this chain of healthcare providers. Thus, to achieve a successful and contemporary healthcare system, our preventive care needs to be strengthened and more closely intertwined with the curative aspect [7].

The impact on patients: the telling example of chronic diseases

The above shortcomings in terms of prevention and integrated care affect the patient. Indeed, healthcare providers from different disciplines cannot advise patients in a sufficiently coordinated manner. This is strongly reflected in the care of chronically ill patients; a category that will continue to pose a major challenge in the future. Diabetic patients, for example, often need a dietician, podiatrist and endocrinologist, but if these specialists only deal with their own care tasks, this leads to care fragmentation and, for example, potentially conflicting or incomplete treatment. To address this issue and encourage integrated care, the UZ Brussel, for example, opened Belgium's first integrated diabetes clinic in 2011.

Importance for primary care in the context of integrated care

The call for a different approach is not only heard from specialised care: primary care has also been calling for prevention and integrated care for some time. The recent reorganisation of the primary care in Flanders into primary care zones has as one of its objectives to strive for more integration and continuity of care [8]. This first line can therefore play an important role in this, which is expressed, for example, in care pathways [9]: a concept approach, treatment and follow-up of a patient (with a chronic condition) that is coordinated between patient, GP and specialist. A concrete example is the Type-2 diabetes care pathway in which the collaboration between patient, GP and specialist is formalised. Also for other conditions that require long-term follow-up, such as mental health conditions, such pathways can lead to care that is better coordinated between healthcare providers.

Adapted funding for a contemporary and future-proof healthcare system

Huisartsen gaven echter aan dat zij vaak onvoldoende tijd kunnen vrijmaken voor de preventieve opvolgingsactiviteiten van het HALT2Diabetes-programma [10]. Ondanks hun motivatie voor deze preventieve acties, worden ze enerzijds geconfronteerd met volle wachtkamers die acute zorg vragen en anderzijds met een financieringsmodel dat hen per prestatie vergoedt.

Besides the advantages of care pathways in terms of organisation and communication, this concept can also offer new insights in terms of financing: care pathways can be provided from bundled financing. Although such funding is not equally suitable for every condition or type of care and it also poses new challenges, it gives healthcare professionals an alternative to the current per-performance payment, also known as the fee-for-service system. From a prevention point of view, however, we are bumping up against the limits of this system which was illustrated, for example, during an evaluation of the Flemish HALT2Diabetes programme: an intensive lifestyle intervention programme for patients with Type-2 diabetes. Lifestyle interventions can be organised cost-effectively and have the potential to achieve sustainable behavioural change and thus prevent (further complications due to) diabetes in high-risk patients.

However, GPs indicated that they often cannot spare enough time for the preventive follow-up activities of the HALT2Diabetes programme [10]. Despite their motivation for these preventive actions, they are faced, on the one hand, with full waiting rooms demanding acute care and, on the other, with a funding model that reimburses them on a per-performance basis.

In the examples above, we already see some great initiatives around prevention and integrated care in Belgium. What this still lacks is a coherent system in which prevention and integrated care are given the place they deserve based on their potential health gains. A look abroad may also provide some inspiration in this regard. In this way, we will hopefully arrive at a more central place for prevention that can bring the hidden part of the 'disease iceberg' more to the surface.

Would you like to know more about Désirée's doctoral research or would you like to coordinate with us about prevention and/or integrated care and how Möbius can support you in this? Feel free to contact us!