What if patients who would normally be admitted to hospital could receive the same level of care in their own homes? Advances in technology, remote monitoring and new ways of organising healthcare are making this increasingly possible. On 4 November, the University of Twente will bring together representatives from eight Dutch hospitals and researchers to share experiences and develop a common vision for Hospital at Home (HaH) in the Netherlands.
Healthcare systems in the Netherlands are facing growing pressure. An ageing population, workforce shortages and increasing demand for care are driving the need for new approaches. Hospital at Home offers a promising alternative. Rather than receiving treatment on a hospital ward, patients can receive hospital-level care in their own homes, supported by healthcare professionals, medical technology and remote monitoring.
One example is Zorg bij Jou, a programme providing hospital-level care at home for patients with conditions such as heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Hospital at Home has the potential to reduce pressure on hospital beds and make healthcare more accessible and person-centred. However, it also raises important questions. Which patients are suitable for Hospital at Home? How does it affect healthcare professionals and informal carers? And how can quality and patient safety be maintained outside traditional hospital settings?
Eight hospitals share their experiences
On Wednesday 4 November, representatives from eight Dutch hospitals will gather at the University of Twente for the symposium Transforming Hospital at Home in the Netherlands. Participating hospitals include Martini Hospital, Medisch Spectrum Twente (MST), Isala, Amsterdam UMC, Radboudumc and Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC).
The morning programme will focus on practical experiences, implementation challenges and opportunities for further development. Researchers from the University of Twente will contribute scientific perspectives, connecting research with the realities of delivering hospital-level care at home. ‘A number of hospitals across the Netherlands are developing Hospital at Home largely in parallel,’ says UT researcher and symposium organiser Jodi Sturge. ‘By bringing them together, they can share innovations and lessons learned, discuss what Hospital at Home means in the Dutch context and build a national research and practice community.’
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