Tackling the challenge of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes across Europe: a joint action by more than 300 public health professionals. Commentary.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and diabetes pose significant health challenges in Europe, affecting millions and burdening healthcare systems. The recent EU4Health Programme places reducing the burden of non-communicable diseases (NCD) at the forefront, through a Joint Action focused on CVD and diabetes (JACARDI, Joint Action on CARdiovascular diseases and DIabetes). This initiative unites 21 European countries, including Ukraine, and over 300 experts. Employing an innovative approach and standardised methodology, JACARDI implements 142 pilot projects covering the entire "patient" journey. Particular focus will be given to improvement of data availability and quality. Additionally, JACARDI will emphasise transversal and intersectional aspects, such as health equity, determinants of health, and social, cultural, and ethnic diversity, while pioneering gender-transformative leadership. Committed to evidence-based interventions, JACARDI aims to harmonise strategies and disseminate knowledge for enhanced CVD and diabetes prevention and management. The goal is to identify effective strategies for wider implementation, fostering cross-national collaboration and fortifying Europe's health resilience.

Improving the quality of care for people with chronic diseases: translating recommendations to practice.

INTRODUCTION: Aim of this paper is to present a guide for translating to practice an evidence-based set of Quality Criteria and Recommendations (QCR) to promote the implementation of policies and practices in the field of health promotion, disease prevention and care for people with chronic diseases. METHODS: The guide is based on real-world experiences of eight European pilot actions using QCR as a framework for practice design, development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. All partners implemented their respective practices by following the same agreed process. RESULTS: The implementation method was summarized in seven steps where each of one outline a particular phase of the process. The guide provides a step-by-step tutorial for the implementation of QCR. CONCLUSIONS: Practical experiences from the pilot actions show the potential value of using the QCR in designing and implementing practices to improve the quality of care for people with chronic diseases.

Development of a model of integration for complex chronic conditions across levels of healthcare and the community in Novo mesto, Slovenia.

BACKGROUND: People with complex chronic conditions have multidimensional needs and often experience fragmentation in care. A model of integration was developed based on a case study of chronic wound management in Novo mesto, Slovenia. METHODS: JA CHRODIS Recommendations and Criteria were used as a framework for developing the practice. A baseline analysis, patient needs assessments and analysis of clinical pathways were performed using qualitative methodology. RESULTS: Baseline analysis identified facilitators and barriers to care. Patient needs assessment led to organizational solutions in health and social care. Analysis of clinical pathways proved high variability in treatment process. Using these results a model of integration was developed introducing protocol of care and care coordinator at the secondary (hospital) level. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed model would significantly reduce fragmentation in care for people with complex chronic conditions. The model was discussed at the policy dialogue and action plan defined for potential sustainability and scalability of the practice.