[The Open-Doors Policy in Oslo: both the starting point and the final chord]

The Lovisenberg Diakonal Hospital recently introduced an Open-Door Policy in their (formerly) closed psychiatric admission wards for people with a forced admission to an acute psychiatric crisis. Their modern mental health care system is remarkably similar to the Dutch healthcare organization, with shared values and standards, and provides good grounds for an implementation of an Open-Doors Policy in the Netherlands.

Gaining inspiration to reduce seclusion and create a new quality development and assessment process for closed admission departments in the Dutch mental health care system.

A delegation of mental health professionals paid a working visit to the Lovisenberg Diakonal Hospital in Oslo to observe and reflect on the Open-Door Policy.

The basis of the working method in Oslo is the pragmatic introduction of the Open-Door Policy with an implementation strategy based on the dialogue and an actual implementation combined with evaluations and creativity. The preliminary results are positive and do not seem to lead to more incidents.

The introduction of an Open-Door Policy is a clear decision based on universal human rights and requires ample room for exploration and creativity during its implementation. Those involved commit to data-driven innovation and to distinguish recovery and team outcomes. This method stimulates a process of developmental learning.