Epilepsy care pathway: The Finnish model
Abstract Objective Integrated care pathways are essential for consistent, effective epilepsy care, offering equal access and quality regardless of socioeconomic status. They must align with the WHO Global Action Plan on Epilepsy, ensuring best practices and cost‐effective management. We describe the...
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Wiley
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Epilepsia Open |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/epi4.13093 |
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| author | Reetta Kälviäinen Zakarya Hadj‐Allal Jarkko Kirjavainen Reina Roivainen Tarja Linnankivi Jukka Peltola Kai Eriksson Salla Lamusuo Tuire Lähdesmäki Johanna Annunen Päivi Vieira Virpi Tarkiainen Leena Jutila Anni Saarela Leena Kämppi Liisa Metsähonkala Eija Gaily Niina Lähde Jaana Antinmaa Sini Erme Anna‐Leena Pirttisalo Jari Virolainen Milla Ylijoki Laura Kela Jonna Komulainen‐Ebrahim Paula Sorjonen Finnish Severe Epilepsy Coordination Group |
| author_facet | Reetta Kälviäinen Zakarya Hadj‐Allal Jarkko Kirjavainen Reina Roivainen Tarja Linnankivi Jukka Peltola Kai Eriksson Salla Lamusuo Tuire Lähdesmäki Johanna Annunen Päivi Vieira Virpi Tarkiainen Leena Jutila Anni Saarela Leena Kämppi Liisa Metsähonkala Eija Gaily Niina Lähde Jaana Antinmaa Sini Erme Anna‐Leena Pirttisalo Jari Virolainen Milla Ylijoki Laura Kela Jonna Komulainen‐Ebrahim Paula Sorjonen Finnish Severe Epilepsy Coordination Group |
| author_sort | Reetta Kälviäinen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Objective Integrated care pathways are essential for consistent, effective epilepsy care, offering equal access and quality regardless of socioeconomic status. They must align with the WHO Global Action Plan on Epilepsy, ensuring best practices and cost‐effective management. We describe the Finnish national epilepsy care pathway, which includes multiple levels of care, from initial diagnosis to long‐term care for all types of epilepsy, with a specific focus on rare and complex cases integrated with the European Reference Network (ERN) for Rare and Complex Epilepsies EpiCARE. Methods In 2017, the Finnish government nominated Kuopio University Hospital to coordinate diagnostics and care for severe epilepsy in Finland. A national multidisciplinary consensus panel, including specialists from both adult and pediatric neurology departments across all five Finnish university hospitals and from the patient organization, was established. The resulting pathway was adopted into the current Finnish evidence‐based current care guidelines for epilepsy. Results The Finnish epilepsy care pathway focuses on timely referrals, continuity of care and enhanced communication between healthcare providers at different levels of care. Patient involvement is assured with an individualized digital application offering secure online messaging, a seizure calendar, and remote visits. The pathway enhances virtual consultations and includes regular national diagnostic multidisciplinary meetings for severe epilepsies before selected cases are consulted in ERN EpiCARE meetings. Significance This Finnish model for epilepsy care provides a streamlined, multidisciplinary approach to diagnosis and treatment and combines modern digital tools, data sharing, and peer support. This pathway can serve to model how integrated healthcare systems can effectively manage complex conditions. Plain Language Summary We describe the Finnish national epilepsy care pathway, which includes multiple levels of care, from initial diagnosis to long‐term care for all types of epilepsy, with a specific focus on rare and complex cases integrated with the European Reference Network (ERN) for Rare and Complex Epilepsies EpiCARE. Finnish model for epilepsy care provides a streamlined, multidisciplinary approach to diagnosis and long‐term treatment of epilepsy. The pathway enhances virtual consultations and includes national and European‐level diagnostic multidisciplinary meetings for severe epilepsies. To improve outcomes, we emphasize the use of modern digital tools, data sharing, and peer support. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8990aed86e62467eb1d6dafc89260cba |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2470-9239 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Epilepsia Open |
| spelling | doaj-art-8990aed86e62467eb1d6dafc89260cba2025-02-07T09:12:45ZengWileyEpilepsia Open2470-92392025-02-0110117718510.1002/epi4.13093Epilepsy care pathway: The Finnish modelReetta Kälviäinen0Zakarya Hadj‐Allal1Jarkko Kirjavainen2Reina Roivainen3Tarja Linnankivi4Jukka Peltola5Kai Eriksson6Salla Lamusuo7Tuire Lähdesmäki8Johanna Annunen9Päivi Vieira10Virpi Tarkiainen11Leena Jutila12Anni Saarela13Leena Kämppi14Liisa Metsähonkala15Eija Gaily16Niina Lähde17Jaana Antinmaa18Sini Erme19Anna‐Leena Pirttisalo20Jari Virolainen21Milla Ylijoki22Laura Kela23Jonna Komulainen‐Ebrahim24Paula Sorjonen25Finnish Severe Epilepsy Coordination GroupKuopio Epilepsy Center, Neurocenter Kuopio University Hospital Kuopio FinlandKuopio Epilepsy Center, Neurocenter Kuopio University Hospital Kuopio FinlandKuopio Epilepsy Center, Pediatric Neurology Kuopio University Hospital Kuopio FinlandDepartment of Neurology, Epilepsia Helsinki Helsinki University Hospital Helsinki FinlandDepartment of Pediatric Neurology, Epilepsia Helsinki Helsinki University Hospital Helsinki FinlandDepartment of Neurology Tampere University Hospital Tampere FinlandDepartment of Pediatric Neurology Tampere University Hospital Tampere FinlandDepartment of Neurology Turku University Hospital Turku FinlandDepartment of Pediatric Neurology Turku University Hospital Turku FinlandNeurocenter, Neurology Oulu University Hospital Oulu FinlandResearch Unit of Clinical Medicine and Medical Research Center Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu Oulu FinlandFinnish Epilepsy Association FinlandKuopio Epilepsy Center, Neurocenter Kuopio University Hospital Kuopio FinlandInstitute of Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences University of Eastern Finland Kuopio FinlandDepartment of Neurology, Epilepsia Helsinki Helsinki University Hospital Helsinki FinlandDepartment of Pediatric Neurology, Epilepsia Helsinki Helsinki University Hospital Helsinki FinlandDepartment of Pediatric Neurology, Epilepsia Helsinki Helsinki University Hospital Helsinki FinlandDepartment of Neurology Tampere University Hospital Tampere FinlandDepartment of Pediatric Neurology Tampere University Hospital Tampere FinlandDepartment of Pediatric Neurology Tampere University Hospital Tampere FinlandDepartment of Neurology Turku University Hospital Turku FinlandDepartment of Neurology Turku University Hospital Turku FinlandDepartment of Pediatric Neurology Turku University Hospital Turku FinlandNeurocenter, Neurology Oulu University Hospital Oulu FinlandResearch Unit of Clinical Medicine and Medical Research Center Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu Oulu FinlandFinnish Epilepsy Association FinlandAbstract Objective Integrated care pathways are essential for consistent, effective epilepsy care, offering equal access and quality regardless of socioeconomic status. They must align with the WHO Global Action Plan on Epilepsy, ensuring best practices and cost‐effective management. We describe the Finnish national epilepsy care pathway, which includes multiple levels of care, from initial diagnosis to long‐term care for all types of epilepsy, with a specific focus on rare and complex cases integrated with the European Reference Network (ERN) for Rare and Complex Epilepsies EpiCARE. Methods In 2017, the Finnish government nominated Kuopio University Hospital to coordinate diagnostics and care for severe epilepsy in Finland. A national multidisciplinary consensus panel, including specialists from both adult and pediatric neurology departments across all five Finnish university hospitals and from the patient organization, was established. The resulting pathway was adopted into the current Finnish evidence‐based current care guidelines for epilepsy. Results The Finnish epilepsy care pathway focuses on timely referrals, continuity of care and enhanced communication between healthcare providers at different levels of care. Patient involvement is assured with an individualized digital application offering secure online messaging, a seizure calendar, and remote visits. The pathway enhances virtual consultations and includes regular national diagnostic multidisciplinary meetings for severe epilepsies before selected cases are consulted in ERN EpiCARE meetings. Significance This Finnish model for epilepsy care provides a streamlined, multidisciplinary approach to diagnosis and treatment and combines modern digital tools, data sharing, and peer support. This pathway can serve to model how integrated healthcare systems can effectively manage complex conditions. Plain Language Summary We describe the Finnish national epilepsy care pathway, which includes multiple levels of care, from initial diagnosis to long‐term care for all types of epilepsy, with a specific focus on rare and complex cases integrated with the European Reference Network (ERN) for Rare and Complex Epilepsies EpiCARE. Finnish model for epilepsy care provides a streamlined, multidisciplinary approach to diagnosis and long‐term treatment of epilepsy. The pathway enhances virtual consultations and includes national and European‐level diagnostic multidisciplinary meetings for severe epilepsies. To improve outcomes, we emphasize the use of modern digital tools, data sharing, and peer support.https://doi.org/10.1002/epi4.13093care continuumcare modelepilepsy managementhealthcare servicesintegrated care pathwayrare and complex epilepsy |
| spellingShingle | Reetta Kälviäinen Zakarya Hadj‐Allal Jarkko Kirjavainen Reina Roivainen Tarja Linnankivi Jukka Peltola Kai Eriksson Salla Lamusuo Tuire Lähdesmäki Johanna Annunen Päivi Vieira Virpi Tarkiainen Leena Jutila Anni Saarela Leena Kämppi Liisa Metsähonkala Eija Gaily Niina Lähde Jaana Antinmaa Sini Erme Anna‐Leena Pirttisalo Jari Virolainen Milla Ylijoki Laura Kela Jonna Komulainen‐Ebrahim Paula Sorjonen Finnish Severe Epilepsy Coordination Group Epilepsy care pathway: The Finnish model Epilepsia Open care continuum care model epilepsy management healthcare services integrated care pathway rare and complex epilepsy |
| title | Epilepsy care pathway: The Finnish model |
| title_full | Epilepsy care pathway: The Finnish model |
| title_fullStr | Epilepsy care pathway: The Finnish model |
| title_full_unstemmed | Epilepsy care pathway: The Finnish model |
| title_short | Epilepsy care pathway: The Finnish model |
| title_sort | epilepsy care pathway the finnish model |
| topic | care continuum care model epilepsy management healthcare services integrated care pathway rare and complex epilepsy |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/epi4.13093 |
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