Innovative patient centered health care services - advantages of establishing a close CE network in celiac disease patient health care
Healthy and active aging is one of the greatest social challenges in EU facing longer life expectancy. Early prevention of chronic diseases that have severe impact on general well-being of patients is extremely important if we want to reach this goal and ensure sustainable health care systems in CE. Lack of development and promotion of innovative quality health services, disease management models and education have a profound negative effect. To tackle this challenge, this project will demonstrate development and pilot testing of innovative health service model in management of celiac disease (CD), by using CANVAS business model, aiming at improving knowledge, management and organizational capacities. CD is a model of a lifelong disease caused by ingestion of cereals. It affects 1-3% of population (up to 5 million in CE) of all ages. It is estimated that 80% of people having CD are un/misdiagnosed. Diagnostic delay remains 6-10 years. Undiagnosed/untreated CD leads to a number of severe (potentially preventable) complications: infertility, osteoporosis, neurological disorders, malignancies, etc, which have profound effect on quality of life. 
CE regions have different knowledge capacities and health care systems, which are insufficient and only partially address current problems. By transnational cooperation and analysis of differences in diagnostic approach, experts&#39; knowledge and patient awareness and satisfaction and benchmarking of existing patient management models we will gain important data to develop e-learning tools for health care personnel and patients, to close the knowledge gap between stakeholders and to improve patient support. In each region an innovative pilot services will be tested, based on which an universal model will be designed including organizational improvements and implementation of best practices. This will enable us to develop a patient centered health care service, and thus ensure healthy and active aging of CD patients.