The Patient Journey App is already being used in several hospitals for various conditions. In the Patient Journey App, patients can not only find general information about treatments and treating physicians. The app also provides explanations about preparation, admission and rehabilitation processes. Within Network Osteoarthritis Flevoland, this information is provided through videos of the orthopedic surgeon, general practitioner and a physiotherapist.
Stepped Care for Osteoarthritis
Network Osteoarthritis works according to the so-called Stepped Care model. Osteoarthritis is treated systematically and step-by-step. In the first step, the emphasis is on information and exercises that can be performed at home. In the second step, patients are guided in the exercises by a physiotherapist. If the patient is not sufficiently helped with those two steps, then an orthopedic surgeon is consulted in step three.
Based on the patient’s complaints, it is determined whether to start with the first or second step. Step 1 deals with the Patient Journey App. After the referral by the GP, who has registered the patient via a follow-up consultation with the orthopedic surgeon, the patient starts working with exercises at home via the app. The patient receives a login code to use the app.
If necessary or desired, patients can also do the exercises together with a specially trained physiotherapist or remedial therapist. This can be requested via the website of Netwerk Osteoarthritis Flevoland. The guidance is also reimbursed from the basic insurance.
The Network Osteoarthritis Flevoland is part of the Almere Durft programme. This is a partnership between the Flevoziekenhuis and general practitioners and physiotherapists in the region with the aim of developing and rolling out initiatives concerning the right care in the right place.
Patient Journey App
In recent years, partly under pressure from the corona pandemic, more and more hospitals have started using the Patient Journey App. The Dutch app was developed and introduced in 2015 by Interactive Studios.
At the end of 2020, VieCuri already integrated its previously in-house developed Treatment App into the Patient Journey App. The Patient Journey App is also available for several treatments at Bravis Hospital as a replacement for the Zorgwijzer.