Complex primary care for multimorbid patients in the Netherlands: Interprofessional perspectives within and beyond general practice

Z Evid Fortbild Qual Gesundhwes. 2024 Sep:189:82-87. doi: 10.1016/j.zefq.2024.08.002. Epub 2024 Sep 3.

Abstract

Many consultations in general practice concern patients with multimorbidity, pressuring our healthcare systems with complex care needs. The number of people affected from multimorbidity is still increasing, as is the average number of co-occurring diseases per patient. The resulting complexity of care needs cannot be managed by health professionals from a single discipline, but requires interprofessional collaborative practice. This paper describes best practices from the Netherlands to facilitate interprofessional caretaking of patients with multimorbidity in primary care. The focus here is on collaborations within general practice and at community level.

Keywords: Deutschland; General practice; Germany; Hausarztpraxis; Interprofessional collaboration; Interprofessionelle Zusammenarbeit; Multimorbidity; Multimorbidität; Netherlands; Niederlande.

MeSH terms

  • General Practice* / organization & administration
  • Humans
  • Interdisciplinary Communication
  • Interprofessional Relations
  • Intersectoral Collaboration
  • Multimorbidity*
  • National Health Programs / organization & administration
  • Netherlands
  • Patient Care Team / organization & administration
  • Primary Health Care* / organization & administration