Patients with a high clotting risk in Suriname can now receive an improved treatment experience, leading to fewer complications at lower care costs.
In Suriname around 1.000 patients receive anticoagulation treatment. Their blood values have to be monitored regularly and a new dose schedule is prescribed for their medication on the basis of this monitoring results. For many thousands of people who also need anticoagulation treatment, this form of treatment was not possible due to long travel distances to hospitals, lack of specialist knowledge or lack of financial resources. The result was a much higher risk of complications in the form of TIAs, CVAs and embolisms. For cardiologist Dr. G.P. Oehlers, who works at the Paramaribo Academic Hospital, this was the reason to look for better and more efficient anticoagulation treatment support. After a great deal of research he came across the Dutch company Portavita.
E-Health solution
Wi-Fi is used extensively in Suriname and almost everyone now has a mobile telephone. An important principle for Dr. Oehlers was therefore to find a solution that used the possibilities provided by the Internet.
After Dr. Oehlers had thoroughly researched both medical and process-based information it soon became clear to him that an anticoagulation treatment method such as the one used in the Netherlands would achieve an enormous improvement in care in Suriname. To achieve this, Dr. Oehlers recently established a new organisation in Suriname: "Thrombose Dienst Suriname N.V." or TD-Sur for short (Thrombosis Service Suriname). The anticoagulation treatment provided by this thrombosis service in Suriname is based on the decades of experience and worldwide best outcomes of Dutch thrombosis treatment and is supported by "Portavita Anticoagulation"
Fewer complications thanks to improved monitoring
In the past, patients in Suriname had a blood sample taken once per month for analysis. On the basis of proven algorithms, "Portavita Anticoagulation" not only provides a medication dose schedule, but also advice about when the patient needs to return for an examination. The percentage of patients within the treatment range (TTR: Time in Therapeutic Range) – now approximately 45 to 50% - has increased considerably as a result. It has also promoted therapy adherence, which has also resulted in an improved TTR.
Cost savings
Because a specialist provided the anticoagulation treatment in Suriname, the costs were quite high. Thanks to the use of "Portavita Anticoagulation" it is now possible for well-trained thrombosis staff to take over a substantial amount of the work from the specialist. This not only saves a lot of money but also relieves the burden on the hospital. The risk of complications has also been reduced, as a result of which the total care costs per patient have decreased substantially.
Time saving
For good thrombosis treatment, patients in Suriname had to visit the hospital three times on one day: in the morning to the lab for a blood sample to be taken, later in the day to receive the result and their dose schedule and then to another location to make an appointment for their next visit to the lab. Thanks to the use of "Portavita Anticoagulation", patients only need to visit the hospital or outpatient clinic once, for a blood sample to be taken. The results, the medication dose schedule and the appointment for the next treatment are now received by the patient via Portavita Digital Logbook (the patients portal).
Better quality of care
Dr. Oehlers explains: "The new way or working means taking the care to the patient, improving and innovating the care delivered, reducing costs for the healthcare insurer and opening up the remote inland areas".
The new way of thrombosis treatment was presented by Dr. Oehlers to the Director of the Ministry of Public Health in Suriname, who following the presentation concluded: "This innovative treatment method clearly has added value for public health in Suriname."
Amsterdam, August 30, 2016 – press release
