Innovation of Care focuses on the development of new approaches (technologies, interventions, strategies and models) in health care, especially for dependent patients and consumers in vulnerable situations (patients with chronic diseases, frail elderly) or in the situation of complex patient preference-sensitive decision making. The aim is to improve care, by describing and interpreting problems, developing interventions and strategies, and stimulating practitioners to make use of interventions which have proven to be effective. These interventions can be located at various places in the chain of care (from prevention and primary care to specialist care and after care). Attention is paid to the organisation of care, to changing roles of professionals (for example nurses taking over traditional tasks of physicians) and to the changing position of the patient and consumer, who can play an active role in their care process. Innovations are developed in close cooperation with practitioners and patient and consumer groups. This strengthens the practical applicability and provides a firm basis for implementation. Innovations are evaluated from various perspectives: effectiveness, cost-effectiveness and normative consequences (concerning the responsibilities of professionals and patients) and pay attention to content, process and structure.
The cluster Innovation of Care consists of four programmes:
- Innovations in health care for the elderly
- Redesigning health care
- Health technology assessment
- Implementation of Evidence