INTRODUCTION BIRTE WASSENBERG " Cross-border cooperation can be compared to a patchwork, where pieces of material have been sewn together. The border regions are the seams of Europe and everyone knows that the whole piece is only as strong as its seams. This experience has instilled in me the profound conviction that border regions play a fundamental role as a testing ground and driving force f...

This paper discusses whether European institutions should devote so much attention and funding to cross-border healthcare or they should instead prioritise guaranteeing universal health coverage (UHC), "addressing inequalities" and tackling the effects of austerity measures. The paper argues through providing the evidence in both areas of research, that the priority at European level from a pub...

Introduction / objectives Resistant bacteria pose more and more a risk to patient safety in Europe, especially in cross-border regions where differences in antibiotics prescription and hygiene policies exist. Antibiotic Stewardship Programs (ASPs) have been implemented in some hospitals to facilitate healthcare professionals in adequately prescribing antibiotics to improve patient safety and to...

The concurrent circumstances of an increasingly mobile workforce, disparities in access to healthcare, and the ability to deliver care through technology (e.g., telehealth) present the need and the opportunity for practice across state borders. Over the past four years, the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) has explored professional licensure models that will allow cross bo...

With the Cross-Border Healthcare Directive (2011/24/EU) a mandatory framework was established to foster cooperation on a voluntary basis, within European Reference Networks (ERNs). These networks are composed of centres and healthcare providers. The exchange of knowledge is a central issue in this context. A detailed literature survey was carried out to determine the most important factors affe...