All hospitals are expected to become a member of a hospital network by 1 January 2020 at the latest. This way the government aims to promote collaboration between hospitals, particularly with respect to basic specialist care. Bearing this perspective in mind, the four hospitals signed up to collaborate as a loco regional hospital network.
The network’s long term vision and joint identity will be developed in more detail, whilst retaining the individuality of each of the four participating hospitals. “Cooperation yes, but retaining individual autonomy,” the chairman of the network, Jo Vandeurzen, affirmed. The network will focus on the provision and monitoring of high quality care, as close as possible to the needs of the patient. Important in this process is the continuity of care between the various care partners.
Care hub
Plexus, the name chosen by the network, refers to this kind of high quality care hub. Plexus is the medical term for a network of nerves or blood vessels. As the name of the new network, Plexus acts as a symbol for a collaboration in which the four hospitals will each be given an individual role. The aim is to develop a robust network based on key concepts that include vision, inspiration, respect, knowledge and technology.
Jo Vandeurzen: “Each of the four hospitals aims to become a link in this integrated care hub. As Plexus they want to work together to develop a care system for the future.”
On Friday 20 December RZ Heilig Hart Leuven, RZ Heilig Hart Tienen, AZ Diest and UZ Leuven signed up to the statutes of the new Plexus hospital network.