The hospitals are about 30 kilometers apart, but in many ways Amsterdam UMC and Flevoziekenhuis are closely linked. “We work within this alliance with about 30 doctors back and forth at both locations in Almere and Amsterdam,” Van de Ven says. “We hold joint multidisciplinary consultations and consultation hours and perform surgeries together.” The big advantage is that patients receive the right care in the right place. Van de Ven explains: “At Flevo Hospital, people get their turn quickly. In 2023, surgery saw 637 patients come in and be diagnosed at Amsterdam UMC and operated on at Flevo Hospital. The doctors also provide aftercare as one team.”
Satisfied patients
That patients are also very satisfied with the cooperation is evident from the patient satisfaction survey. The average rating for all cooperating specializations is above 8, on a scale of 1 to 10. Patients like the fact that they receive certain highly complex care, such as radiotherapy, in the Flevo Hospital for which they previously had to go to Amsterdam. A doctor gives a breast cancer patient a diagnosis at Amsterdam UMC, and the same doctor, if surgery is needed, performs it at the Flevo Hospital. If the patient needs more complex care, the patient remains in Amsterdam UMC.
Hematology collaboration
The hematologists have also joined forces. In the 12 years that internist-hematologist Koen de Heer has worked at Flevoziekenhuis, he has always spent one day a week at Amsterdam UMC. “Working in two places works like a lubricant. We know each other, trust each other and complement each other. In more and more areas, the hematologists work together. Stem cell transplants take place at Amsterdam UMC, aftercare at Flevo Hospital.” Another example of cooperation is the relocation of the BETER outpatient clinic from Amsterdam UMC to the Flevo Hospital. This outpatient clinic provides aftercare for people who were treated for Hodgkin lymphoma and certain forms of non-Hodgkin lymphoma more than 5 years ago. “Now both hospitals are working together in this outpatient clinic and we are sharing each other's knowledge,” De Heer said.
Science and education
In addition to patient satisfaction, there are other benefits of the collaboration. Take scientific research. Amsterdam UMC can allow more patients to participate in scientific studies through the collaboration with the Flevo Hospital. For example, within hematology, 8 studies are running in Almere. A total of 75 joint studies are running. De Heer: “We have the patients, the academy has the knowledge; we need each other.” There is also cooperation in the field of education. Flevo Hospital trains more than 60 assistant physicians from Amsterdam UMC at 9 departments every year.
Setting the example
15 years ago, a number of surgeons themselves took the initiative to start treating patients jointly at the two locations. This has since taken off. The surgeons' approach was so inspiring that numerous other departments at Amsterdam UMC and Flevoziekenhuis followed suit. Now there are collaborations within a large number of specialties, including surgery, orthopedics, gynecology, plastic surgery, pediatric surgery, oral and maxillofacial surgery, oncology and hematology.
Importance of working together greater
The collaboration of Amsterdam UMC and Flevoziekenhuis is seen nationwide as a successful and inspiring example. “Several other regions have come to learn from this. Because with the mandate of the Integral Care Agreement to do more together in the region, the importance of working together is growing. We have been providing the right care in the right place,” says De Heer. “That has been the thrust of this collaboration from the beginning.”