<< Objectives >>We aim to establish and verify a competency-based, sustainable system of simulation-based vocational training in primary health care in three countries (Slovenia, Croatia and N. Macedonia). We will achieve this by developing and implementation of a 2-level simulation-based competency model for trainers of medical staff. At the same time, we plan to raise awareness of the importance of simulation-based training and develop a general roadmap for introducing such training in other countries.<< Implementation >>We will: -Develop a competency-based model for simulation based training in primary care.-Produce culturally adapted technologically advanced simulation training materials for primary health care teams and trainers.-Equip simulation centres and conduct training for advance and basic level trainers to carry out up to 4000 trainings per country.-Conduct a panel of experts, policy dialogue and conference for promotion and inclusion of this learning model into regular and continuous education.<< Results >>The results of the project will have an impact on the training of health workers in Slovenia, Croatia and N. Macedonia, who will be continuously trained in simulation centres. This will reduce the number of safety risks that can affect patient survival to comparable European level. The partner organisations from the academic and professional sectors will ensure within their (inter)national network that the project results are included in the curricula and implemented in other countries.

5 public procurers from 4 countries will procure innovative ICT-enabled monitoring solutions to improve health status and optimise hypertension care. HSMonitor will make person-centred care reality - giving the patient the steering wheel - for optimal health outcomes. The procurers have set a comprehensive framework for requirements and solution design consisting of 9 building blocks in three domains, to be addressed in an integrated ICT-enabled hypertension care solution. HSmonitor will apply the internationally acclaimed Chronic Care Model to specify support needs for hypertensive patients at all stages. Self-management and treatment will be supported by personalised guidelines and making the best use of clinical data. In this way a quality culture in healthcare will be fostered and learning healthcare systems made reality. Suppliers will be rigorously evaluated after each of the procurement phases, comprising (I) an open market consultation, (II) specification of architecture and system aligned to requirements of patients, peers and providers, (III) prototype development and testing with end-users and (IV) effectiveness proven in a trial with 500 patients and 150 professionals. Fully rolled out in the procurer countries, enabled by procurers with the authority and capacity in their countries and regions, HSMonitor will serve 31 million patients with hypertension. Reductions in hypertension-related complications promise cost relief of € 5 billion over 7 years in the five procurer countries. Suppliers can expect a turnover of € 1 billion a year. Proven ability to cover the four different health systems promises HSMonitor suppliers easy entry into other EU markets and beyond, a very strong contribution to overcoming fragmentation of demand and fostering the global market.

Social Prescribing (SP) is an innovative solution to bridging the gap between primary health care and non-clinical supports and services within the community. SP enables general practitioners who identify health-related social problems to refer patients to a so-called link worker. The link worker provides personalized support and helps these patients to access community resources by addressing any barriers that may exist. SP is an approach to integrate health and social care and strengthen community orientation. SP thereby mitigates the effects of social determinants of health on health outcomes. However, SP has not been tailored to the needs of people in vulnerable situations yet and the effectiveness of SP to improve their access to health and care services remains unknown. The overall objective of SP-EU is to assess the potential of SP to promote and improve access to health and care services for people in vulnerable situations, focusing on three primary target groups: LGBTIQ persons, refugees and first-generation immigrants and older adults living alone. SP-EU follows a mixed-methods approach: SP adaptations will be co-created with the target groups, to adapt them to their specific needs and social contexts. A pragmatic randomized controlled trial will assess the effectiveness of the adapted SP to improve access by randomizing 1,776 patients in eight EU countries to receive SP or care as usual. A qualitative analysis in five European countries will explore enabling and limiting factors to the implementation of SP from different stakeholders’ perspectives. Additionally, we will communicate and disseminate results and translate them into policy action. SP-EU will enable health care systems to implement SP as a scalable, safe, cost-effective and people-centred solution to provide equal access to sustainable care. Thus, SP-EU will enable the transformation of European health care systems to equitable, community-based, people-centred and integrated health care.