Change to an early intervention team: chances for patient and family perspective

After a fusion and reorganisation we took the chance to change our general community based team in a central region in the Netherlands to an early intervention team for young adults who suffer psychotic symptoms. We started... [ view full abstract ]

After a fusion and reorganisation we took the chance to change our general community based team in a central region in the Netherlands to an early intervention team for young adults who suffer psychotic symptoms. We started September 2015. We try to offer a program conform the guideline first psychosis in the Netherlands including a good diagnostic process together with treatment aimed to recovery and social participation.

After one year we did some research and compared our diagnostic and treatment program with the recommendations in the guidelines. I would like to share the results with you.

The results led to plans for further development of our care, and skills and attitude of the team. January 2017 an expert by experience started to reinforce our team. The team will be trained in a methodology for a peer support group. We almost always work together with families. But which are the best family interventions? How can we use the possibilities of e-health and social media? What contribution the expert bij experience can offer and how can the team implement his recommendations? I will be presenting what we have achieved, but also what still has to be improved and where we search for the best way.

In the discussion I hope we hear each other’s ideas and ways to improve the quality of care for first episode patients and their families and to increase the influence of the patient and family perspective.  In the discussion I would also like to share our experiences at these kinds of changes. How can we keep development going on in times we have less time and less money to do more? We can exchange ideas to stimulate changes in the good direction.