[Principles and stakes of external communication of healthcare networks: the case of heathcare networks for health services accessibility]

Abstract

Healthcare networks which purpose is to manage patients through better coordination of the care, need to develop a communication strategy to be recognized by the public and by healthcare professionals and to be inserted in the healthcare landscape. We firstly will present legal requirements related to external communication of healthcare networks. Then, we will describe the different tools which can be used to communicate about healthcare networks in its area, with the example from a healthcare network for health services accessibility. In the French Public health code, the legal status and the ethical charter of the healthcare network have to be delivered to the healthcare professionals in its area and to the patients. Moreover, the example healthcare network informed collectively and individually the healthcare professionals of its area about its activities. It made it known to the public by the way of departmental prevention manifestations and health education sessions in community social associations. From these examples, we will conduct an ethical reflection on the modalities and stakes of the external communication of healthcare networks.