How comprehensible informing provides 1,400 more hours of care time

Within the Cardiovascular Center of the MCL, patients are supervised, examined and treated for a variety of complaints and disorders of the heart and blood vessels. Examinations are done that are invasive and where a lot of information is offered.

A patient may soon be given 4-6 leaflets to take with them, for example on "The Preparation," "Hospitalization," "The Treatment," "Treatment Limitation," and "Rules of Life. Patients get a lot of information (with them) to absorb in the short appointment.

At the heart center, for 2900 patients per year a "dotter treatment (1700) or a "cardiac catheterization (1200) scheduled. All these patients came to the hospital to receive explanations in the nursing consultation. Through the use of Indiveo, instead of 6 different leaflets, patients receive one packet with digital information: Divis. All information is explained comprehensibly and in images. For example, an animation explains the catheterization and angioplasty and the patient can easily share this information with loved ones.

Fewer trips to the hospital

To prepare properly, patients no longer need to go to the hospital. There is no more need to arrange transportation, and - a small side benefit that patients find important - there are fewer parking costs.

Satisfied department

The department is very pleased with this change. With over 2,000 treatments scheduled, this provides the heart center with 1400 hours (4/5 FTE) per year. This "care time" can now be used differently. Costs have been reduced through savings in printing costs and better staff availability. Patients report satisfaction and the quality of information has improved. The department monitors this with tip-top cards. 'As a Cardiovascular Center, we can inform all our patients in this nice way', says unithoofd Myrna Engwerda. A win-win for patient and health care provider.

Myrna Engwerda and Ralph Koppers were interviewed by RTLZ about the partnership in the spring of 2020. You can watch the broadcast here.

View Divi's for the specialty of cardiology here