NVAVG

 

The NVAVG (Dutch Association of Physicians for People with Intellectual Disabilities) was founded in 1981 as a scientific professional association.  

The main objective of the association is to improve the quality of medical care for people with intellectual disabilities.

Almost all physicians working in this field are NVAVG members (250). One hundred seventy of them are registered as ID specialist in the Netherlands. The NVAVG collaborates with the Dutch government, care and parent’s organisations, associations of allied professionals and international associations IASSID and MAHM.  

The NVAVG magazine TAVG is published 4 times a year in Dutch with summaries in English.

Since its foundation, the NVAVG has aimed a formal recognition of the specialised physician for people with intellectual disabilities and a specialist training programme. In 2000, the Minister of Health signed a resolution, enabling the start of the ID physician specialist-training. The Erasmus Medical University Centre of Rotterdam organises the 3-year curriculum. Since 2003 yearly 6 -10 AVG’s finish their study.  Like the other registered physicians the specialised physician for people with intellectual disabilities (in Dutch AVG) is obliged to follow adequate post graduate education for registered physicians. Furthermore interdisciplinary courses and workshops are being organised.  

Various guidelines have been accomplished, mostly based on scientific research and consensus about topics as: epilepsy, gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, hearing and visual impairments, infection prevention, periodical examination of breasts and cervix of women with intellectual disabilities, ID and parenthood and ethical directives for scientific research.  

Since 2002 general practitioners have the possibility to refer patients with an intellectual disability to an ID physician and other specialised professional services. Several AVG’s are engaged in regional policlinics for specialist medical care for people with intellectual disabilities. These centres provide also multidisciplinary care, if necessary, to the complex and plural needs of the clients, regardless their housing situations.   

 

The most important goals of the NVAVG for the near future are:  

  • to improve the organisation of the specialist health care for people with intellectual disabilities;

  • to get, in concert with the government, the organisational and financial means to enable all intellectually disabled people to make use of AVG's and other specialised professional services;

  • to define a clear and coherent assignment for the ID physician, general practitioner and clinical specialist;

  • to determine quality criteria for the care given by the ID physician; defining professional standards

  • to further develop, revise and implement medical guidelines and protocols;

  • to enhance and stimulate scientific research;

  • to promote international co-operation.

 

Board:

Mr. Arjen Louisse, president

Mrs. Kathleen van den Brink, secretary

 

NVAVG

BTC kantoor 201
Postbus 545
7500 AM ENSCHEDE  The Netherlands

www.nvavg.nl

 

 

 

 

 

 

web editor: administration@mamh.net