Specialized Long-Term Care for Severe Acquired Brain Injury in the Netherlands: Organizing Nationwide Networks

Long-term care for people with severe acquired brain injury in the Netherlands was historically fragmented, resulting in unmet needs and variation in care quality. In 2019, a government-funded program established nationwide expert networks for low-prevalence, high-complexity conditions, including prolonged disorders of consciousness and acquired brain injury with complex neuropsychiatric symptoms (acquired brain injury+). These networks integrate specialized care pathways, multidisciplinary expertise centers, education, consultation, and practice-oriented research through a central knowledge infrastructure. Early experience suggests improved coordination, knowledge dissemination, and access to specialized care. This model offers a transferable framework for strengthening equitable, high-quality long-term care for complex neurological populations.