PREFACE

In cities and neighborhoods, the care providers in a health centre are the first point of contact for people with a (health)care demand. The core care providers in a care and treatment centre are general practitioners, a pharmacy and physiotherapists. In recent years, the (gate keepers) role of the general practitioners in particular has expanded considerably. The general practitioner will continue to play a central role in this, as they are already dealing with 90% of the care demand with only 4% of the Dutch healthcare budget (source: CBS / Finance Ideas). Examples are a more neighborhood-oriented approach to elderly and youth and mental healthcare. In addition, an important development is the relocation of hospital care to Care and treatment centres. These developments are resulting in higher (care) quality and lower costs.

The centres are increasing in number as well as in individual size. A clear trend can be seen in clustering of general practitioners resulting in group practices and clustering within care and treatment centres of (health)care providers. In addition to the aforementioned functions, a care and treatment centre usually also has tenants like: an orthopedist, pedagogue, dietician, psychologist, social workers, dentist and blood test facility. In the Netherlands there are approximately 500 health centres with a wide range of care. This number is expected to double by 2040.

CHALLENGE

The challenge at care and treatment centre lies in bringing the care disciplines together and finding locations for suitable and affordable housing.
With our care and treatment centre “De Brug” in Hengelo, there was a building with general practitioners on the grounds of hospital ZGT. The general practitionars wanted to stay at the location, but were looking to improve the building and expand it with other care disciplines. There was a lot of interest from other healthcare providers. The Contrast general practitioners practice, Tuindorp pharmacy, healthcare organization Sint Maarten (including physiotherapy, psychology and dietetics) and the SHO diagnostics centre saw the (mutual) benefits and formed “De Brug” care and treatment centre. With this mix a complete range of medical care can be offered. The centre at the Geerdinksweg, located between the hospital and a large residential area, will be the location for nearly 130 people working in healthcare.

SOLUTION

Consequently we worked with the care providers to draw up a plan for an efficient layout of the building. As a result, the infrastructure between the various healthcare providers are efficient, so that good coordination can take place. Part of the plan was also to realize a sustainable building with decentralized climate control and solar panels. After a thorough renovation, the health centre was officially opened in mid-2019. The care providers and their clients are very satisfied with the new health centre.

Virtual tour

Click to get a full impression of C&T centre “De Brug” in Hengelo

TESTIMONIALS

“The co-operation between the general practitioners and the pharmacy will be further strengthened. For the patient it is a service that if you have just been to the doctor, you can immediately go to the pharmacy in the same building. The pharmacy is also offering a medicine safe where clients can collect medication 24 hours a day.”, says a general practitioner Marinka Hamstra of the Contrast general practice.

Margreet Wildenborg, coordinator of SHO: “Bringing (health)care close to people, that’s what it’s all about. The short lines of communication with the general practitioners make it easy to consult and we can also fine-tune our services to the wishes of patients and general practitioners.”