Network model for integrated and patient-centered management of PD

Bastiaan R Bloem, Emily J Henderson, E Ray Dorsey, Michael S Okun, Njideka Okubadejo, Piu Chan, John Andrejack, Sirwan K L Darweesh,
Marten Munneke

Chronic neurological diseases are the leading cause of disability globally. Yet, our health-care systems are not designed to
meet the needs of many patients with chronic neurological conditions. Care is fragmented with poor interdisciplinary
collaboration and lack of timely access to services and therapies. Furthermore, care is typically reactive, and complex
problems are managed inadequately because of a scarcity of disease-specific expertise and insufficient use of nonpharmacological interventions. Treatment plans tend to focus on the disease rather than the individual living with it, and
patients are often not involved in clinical decision making. By use of Parkinson’s disease as a model condition, we show
an integrated care concept with a patient-centred perspective that includes evidence-based solutions to improve healthcare delivery for people with chronic neurological conditions. We anticipate that this integrated care model will improve
the quality of life for patients, create a positive working environment for health-care professionals, and be affordable.