ECOMA

Evaluation of the cooperation of two University Hospitals in an European cross-border setting

Background:

The University Hospitals Aachen and Maastricht intend to intensify their Cooperation and aim to found an European University Hospital Aachen-Maastricht. As this will be the first cross-border University Hospital in Europe there is a strong interest from the involved regions, the states of Germany and The Netherlands, health care institutions like sickness funds, academia and the European Union to accompany this and analyze the possible effects. The interest is in administrative, management, economic, legal and research issues.

Evaluation Project:

For these reasons the two University Hospitals involved agreed to cooperate in a scientific “Evaluation Project” to monitor the process and short and medium term effects of the cooperation. In a “Pilot Study” the methodology will be tested in the already ongoing cooperation of vascular surgery or radiotherapy. Both University Hospitals serve their regions as institutions for health care, educational and research institutions and are important employers. Therefore the effects of the cooperation will be seen in different areas. An evaluation has to include all this different layers of dimensions. To get baseline information for comparison the evaluation will start before the cooperation is enlarged. A study team at the Department of International Health at Maastricht University leads and coordinates the Evaluation project. In the evaluation project itself representatives from both Hospitals and other interested parties will be involved. 

There will be six project strands for this group:

-      Develop a Methodology

-      Secure information to describe status quo

-      Case study on vascular surgery or radiotherapy 

-      Find additional Funding

-      Create acceptance for the evaluation process

-      Create a “clearing house” for request regarding for research questions of the cooperation

The first task of this study team will be to identify a methodology that is suitable to deal with:

        -      the multidimensional process of a cooperation itself in the both University Hospitals

        -      the different levels of structure, process and outcome evaluation in this setting

        -      the intended and unintended effects on the different dimension like healthcare and  

               economic effects in the region, research cooperation etc.  

        -     administrative and legal issues in the European setting.

The planned “clearing house” will deal with all internal and external request regarding research questions of the cooperation. By this interested parties get access to a “one stop shop” and requests do not conflict with the regular work of the hospitals.

The research team for the study consists of Prof. Helmut Brand as the strategic project leader (Professor of European Public Health, Department of International Health at Maastricht University) and Dr. Thomas Rotter (Assistant Professor of European Public Health, Department of International Health at Maastricht University) as the operative Manager. 

3 2011