Adult patients (≥
Conditions
Interventions
Intervention: cardiology primary care plus centre
The PC+ intervention is a cardiology PC+ centre in which cardiologists, supported by other health-care professionals, provide specialist consultation
the three overall options are: 1) the patient needs no care (i.e. the patient has no health problems that need further attention), 2) the patient
Sponsors
Maastricht University
Eligibility
Inclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: The study population consists of adult patients (≥18 years) with non-acute and low-complexity cardiology-related health complaints, registered with a GP in the region of the pioneer site. Based on the principles of shared decision-making the GP and the patient will discuss the options for referral which will be either the PC+ centre (intervention group) or the hospital-based outpatient cardiology care (control group). The decision will be based on expertise and experience of the GP, the severity of the complaints of the patient and the preferences of the patient. Less sever, non-acute and low-complex patients should be referred to PC+. At the moment, no specific criteria are included for the referral to PC+. The GP is in charge of referring a patient to the PC+ centre or the hospital-based outpatient cardiology care, i.e. the researchers do not have any influence on the referrals.
Exclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria: Excluded from participation are patients who are already diagnosed with cardiology-related health problems by a cardiologist and patients who have received balloon angioplasty or bypass surgery in the past 18 months. Furthermore, patients with acute health problems who require immediate hospital care and/or patients arriving at the emergency department of the hospital are excluded from participation.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Triple Aim outcomes: - Health of the population - Quality of care - Healthcare costs | — |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| A qualitative study that will consist of semi-structured interviews, focus groups and observations. Besides evaluating the process of the introduction of PC+ (e.g. identifying the barriers and facilitators), the aim of the qualitative study is to clarify and explain quantitative results. Therefore, the qualitative study will be based on an adaptive approach; the ultimate design will depend on developments during the research and results of the quantitative study. | — |
Contacts
Public ContactTessa Quanjel
Outcome results
None listed