In the first phase of the project, a graphical representation of the current chronic care system will be created in collaboration with research partners and decision-makers. The graphical representation is a qualitative conceptual model that visualises important influencing factors and their relationships in a system. In the second phase, a quantitative simulation model based on the graphical representation will be developed that mathematically describes key factors and their relationships in the chronic care system. The main benefits of this type of simulation model are: (i) it can be used to anticipate future developments (trends) in the chronic care system, and (ii) it can be used to evaluate and design health policy reforms.
Although more and more people are suffering from chronic conditions and need long-term care, the Swiss health care system is still strongly oriented towards acute care. In order to provide better care for this group of patients and to make more efficient use of limited health care resources, the health care system needs to be realigned to meet the actual needs.
The aim of the study is to develop recommendations on how the current health care system can be better adapted to the care of patients with chronic conditions. A model of the current care system for patients with chronic conditions will therefore be developed to test the impact of different health policy decisions on the quality and cost of care as well as on patient satisfaction.
The study offers an optimal platform for continuous dialogue between relevant stakeholders on the care of patients with chronic conditions in Switzerland. The products are: (i) a well-grounded qualitative model of the current chronic care system; (ii) a simulation model whose purpose is to analyse the consequences of health policy decisions; (iii) a report on the decisions that have been analysed, and (iv) concrete recommendations for the future design of the health care system in Switzerland.
Projecting the impact of health policy changes for Swiss patients with chronic conditions using simulation modeling
