As we are approaching the end of Work Package 2 (WP 2) "Situation Analysis", where a lot of work has been done, we took the opportunity to present our preliminary results on the current status of integrated care for patients with hypertension (HT) and type 2 diabetes (T2D) to stakeholders to encourage the exchange of viewpoints on the scale-up process in Slovenia. We presented them with the results of the ICP grid analysis, focus group and interview analysis (patient attitudes, health care team, and stakeholder attitudes), the cascades of care, and the economic assessment of the comprehensive treatment of the above-mentioned patients.
Introduction by the project leader (prof. Antonija Poplas Susič) in Slovenia
In the expert panel, a structured group of people (decision-makers) provided their opinion on the topics under investigation: the problems and priorities identified. The participants were representatives of leading institutions (Ministry of Health, National Institute for Public Health, National Health Insurance Institute, national governing bodies, chambers, etc.), as well as of municipalities and associations of patients with relevant chronic diseases. After the first part of our presentation, a productive discussion developed, which led to some constructive proposals for the expansion of care, which we have carefully written down.
Presentation by WP 2 leader (Nataša Stojnić)
Conclusions were presented that introduced patient self-management and expanded integrated care at the population base:
Educating the general population in the communities,
Informing patients about their state of health at different levels,
Improvement of already existing projects in the local community: use and organisation of the further procedure,
Define team processes (uniform functionality),
Quality indicators, including a content part,
Flexible financing.
It proved to be very important to define the ways and methods to empower patients (how could they be treated with telemetric instruments) and to support the educational process (individually or in groups). IT Technology and telemetry are instruments that can simplify and enable integrated chronic care for patients in Slovenia in the future.