To streamline relations between community-based and hospital-based medicine, the Clermont-Ferrand University Hospital (CHU) began, in late 2024, a collaboration with the Territorial Professional Health Communities (CPTS). This initiative aims to structure numerous care pathways, leading to both improved patient management and a better distribution of tasks.
Until the end of 2024, the Puy-de-Dôme area had only three Territorial Professional Health Communities (CPTS) that had signed their formal agreements. Since the beginning of the year, there are now 16 CPTS in the department.
Taking advantage of this momentum, the Clermont-Ferrand University Hospital (CHU) created a medical-administrative duo — Christopher Albano, Director of City-Hospital Relations, and Dr Marie Blanquet, Public Health Physician — to establish connections and care pathways between the CPTS and the CHU.
Several pathways were selected for this pilot initiative:
- Type 2 diabetes
- Identifying frailty in the elderly
- Medication safety (especially medication reconciliation before and after hospitalization)
- Obesity prevention
- Screening for cancer and addictions
- Rare diseases (to reduce diagnostic wandering)
- Access to emergency care within these pathways
- To assess existing structures and align the goals of both community and hospital services, the duo met with all CPTS and departments involved in the pathways.
Ten CPTS have now signed a framework agreement with the CHU. Several of them have moved to the next stage and are already working with the CHU on implementing multiple pathways — including population health responsibility for heart failure.
