Earlier this month, the Netherlands based stichting Begeleide Zelfzorg (sBZ) (Assisted Selfcare Institute), a national provider of care to thrombosis patients, has launched the Thrombosis Care Circle. sBZ selected VitalHealth Software as the IT partner for this project. In close cooperation with sBZ, VitalHealth developed a Thrombosis Care Circle software solution in a timeframe of about 4 months. This rapid development was made possible by the model driven architecture of the Vitalhealth Platform. sBZ went live with the solution early June of 2010.

Support for both care provider and patient
The Thrombosis Care Circle supports sBZ’s primary and secondary care processes, such as dosage of anticoagulation medication, logistics and administration. The solution facilitates the daily activities of medical professionals, such as pharmacists, family medicine physicians, nurses and medical specialists. Specific attention was given to actively include the patient in the care process. Patients have access to e-Learning functionality, can view their medical record data including an up-to-date care plan concerning their medication dosages, and can communicate electronically with their care providers. With the new application, sBZ benefits from a robust and future proof solution that facilitates the integration with multiple source systems, and supports the transition of care for other diseases towards IT supported assisted self care.

New opportunities
sBZ puts a high value on support for innovative care. As indicated by the National Healthcare Inspection, handoff of thrombosis patients between care providers in the care network is a specific point of attention. It requires a highly coordinated approach where the patient, treating physicians, thrombosis specialists and pharmacists work closely together. Using the VitalHealth Platform, sBZ has created optimized workflow support that enables safe patient self management.

One of the goals is to be able to quickly and easily adjust the workflow to a specific patient situation. To create patient specific care plans, sBZ is partnering with community care organization Buurtzorg and with Mediq Pharmacies. This results in a nationwide care network that provides optimal support and information concerning anticoagulation issues.

Chronic disease care should not start with the diagnosis of the disease. Often times risk factors can provide an early warning. To that effect sBZ is partnering with Niped, which offers the Prevention Compass. The Niped and sBZ solutions have both been developed on the VitalHealth Platform, which has led to a synergy that benefits both patient and care provider. The patient is well informed and highly involved, the care provider benefits from a highly consistent method of care.

Sabine Pinedo, vascular specialist and chairman for the sBZ, says: “As a medical professional I highly appreciate being able to directly include patients in their care process. An informed patient is typically a more involved patient that tends to stick with their therapy. Research shows that we need an integrated approach towards ensuring the safe administration of anticoagulation medication. We do this by giving all relevant participants in the care process – including the pharmacy – an active role in the anticoagulation care network. This has been proven to avoid complications. By providing anticoagulation support via the Internet, the treating physician has direct access to information, which helps prevent over-diagnosing. It also facilitates detailed research and dynamic guideline based therapy improvements, which is important to our partners AMC and VUmc, and – given emerging and new anticoagulation medication - should be a priority for thrombosis specialists, cardiologists and cardio surgeons, lung specialists and neurologists.”

David Kat, case manager and secretary of the sBZ says: “Care should be individualized for each patient. The time where patients had to adjust to standardized treatments is past. We want to be able to provide patients with treatments that best fit their individual needs, while at the same time offering full support to the medical professionals providing their care. The Thrombosis Care Circle directly involves patients in the care process, and provides them with information that helps strengthen their commitment to the therapy.”

Gert Jan Sonnevelt, business development manager for VitalHealth Software, says: “It is remarkable to see the level of commitment by sBZ to improving the quality of life for thrombosis patients. The innovative nature of the Thrombosis Care Circle easily deserves the Health 2.0 designation. The patient is definitely in the driver’s seat.”

For additional information about sBZ, call +31-20-7370081 or send an email to arts@begeleidezelfzorg.nl.