A mandatory overhaul of stroke care was implemented in one of Denmark's five health care districts. The reform's dual goals were to reduce expenses and raise the standard of treatment. It involved moving from inpatient rehabilitation programmes to community-based rehabilitation programmes as well as centralising acute stroke care at specialised hospitals and shortening hospital stays. Patients would benefit from a more seamless care pathway between the hospital and the municipality, supported by hospital early discharge teams. The adjustments were made using a formal policy instrument, a health care agreement between the region and municipalities. Using a top-down approach, a committee carried out the implementation, with the hospital sector organised by regions being better represented than the primary sector. Municipalities organise the health care industry.
KeywordsHealth care reform; Stroke care; Implementation Centralisation; Moving care to the community
Published Date: 2023-01-31; Received Date: 2023-01-02
