POZ: Coordinated care for the medal

The survey that was conducted is not representative, but the sample - about a thousand people - allows for hard conclusions. In turn, these are almost 100 percent positive for the coordinated care model. Patients suffering from chronic cardiovascular, diabetes, endocrinology, pulmonology and nephrology diseases - that is, those that can be managed by PCPs under coordinated care - give the lion's share not only good, but even the best ratings.

- The survey enrolled 907 people who answered affirmatively to the first question about whether they were covered by an individual medical care plan. We asked whether the patients' needs were taken into account when setting up the plan, to which 90 percent answered affirmatively. - Magdalena Kolodziej, president of the We Patients Foundation, said during a Friday press conference accompanying the presentation of the survey report. She stressed that one of the reasons - perhaps the main reason - for patients' satisfaction is significantly better access to diagnostic tests, for which there is a long wait in AOS. - Patients waited an average of 2.5 weeks for an ECG Holter in AOS, and more than 16 weeks outside coordinated care, so the differences are significant. There is a 3 week wait for a thyroid biopsy in coordinated care, and a 16 week wait outside coordinated care.

Magdalena Kolodziej stressed that patients appreciate the opportunities provided by coordinated care. - They declare that they were involved in therapeutic decisions, the plan was discussed with them and everything was explained to them. They also see that the diagnostics then proceeded according to the agreed plan, and the list of medications they are taking was reviewed. Everything is clear to them and they know what to ask for and who to ask if they have doubts. Patients declare that coordinated care made them feel safe," Magdalena Kolodziej added. The survey also shows that, thanks to coordinated care, they better understood medical recommendations and were more willing to follow them.

- Coordinated care has been implemented in a great many PCPs for 2 years now. The survey showed that patients appreciate this tool, which can be seen both in the rating of satisfaction with care, but also patients cooperate better, appreciate the role of the coordinator and feel more "taken care of," emphasized Prof. Agnieszka Mastalerz-Migas, national consultant in family medicine.

However, the discussion also touched on other conclusions drawn from the report. The challenge remains to strengthen the role of the PCP team, especially nurses, and thus - to relieve the doctor of tasks that he should not even perform. An example is educational advice - still the largest group of patients receive it precisely from doctors, when in the meantime advice should be given by other medical professionals who are part of the team, such as a nurse. Also, the doctor is indicated by patients as the first person they turn to with their health problems.

Representatives of the Health Ministry and the NFZ stressed that the coordinated care model will be developed and that doctors who have exceeded the limits set in their contracts this year should not fear that they will not receive money. Oversubscriptions in coordinated care currently amount to about PLN 30 million, while undersubscriptions at other providers amount to as much as PLN 170 million, so after balancing all reports, the NFZ will also pay for services performed beyond the limit.