Development and current status of partial hospitalization in The Netherlands

In order to assess the development and current status of partial hospitalization in The Netherlands, a survey was conducted among the 85 Dutch institutions active in this field. The response rate to a carefully formulated questionnaire was 100%. The 85 institutions included in the study offered 1914 places at which 2995 patients per week received treatment. This kind of facility in The Netherlands has apparently developed differently from those in the United States and Great Britain. The Dutch version of the partial-hospitalization program (php) has two main functions: it serves (1) as an alternative to ambulant treatment and (2) as a continuation, or extension, of inpatient treatment. The functions of day care and php as an alternative to inpatient treatment have not yet been fully developed. This study also includes data on facilities, staffing, contraindications and selection, patient population and diagnoses, therapeutic activities, and costs.