About REAS

The concept for the regional antennas in Switzerland (REAS) was developed by Geliko, the Swiss National Conference of Health Leagues. The FHNW (University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland) School of Social Work and the School of Social Work and Health Sciences Lausanne (HETSL/HES-SO) serve as scientific partners. The network has been set up with support from Health Promotion Switzerland and the Federal Office of Public Health.

Geliko comprises 16 organizations, including the Swiss Cancer League, Selbsthilfe Schweiz, and palliative.ch, with a great deal of experience in providing advice and support to people under multiple stresses.

This expertise is channeled through the regional antennas. Together with the people affected they find suitable service providers and specialist units, as well as coordinating the process.

• The parties involved – the people affected and those around them, health and social care professionals, and the funding organizations – all play an important role in working together to find solutions.
• We work as a network in a way that earns and builds trust. We adhere to the relevant confidentiality and data privacy requirements.
• Our solutions are voluntary: there are no compulsory referrals. By the same token, the people who turn to us for support must be willing to cooperate and take the agreed steps.

The regional antennas are geared to people,

• who have more than one chronic illness;
• who are under additional stress, for example because they have a child who hits other children, or are in financial difficulties or conflict with their partner;
• who need several support services that must be coordinated;
• who are clearly overwhelmed by their situation.

Regional antennas can also be contacted by relatives*, service providers, specialist units, authorities and other people who are concerned about someone.

*This includes family, relatives, friends, neighbors, and other people who are close to someone.* This includes family, relatives, friends, neighbors and other people who are close to someone.

The core concerns of the project are:

• Patients
  Prevention thanks to a customized support arrangement in a coordinated support process, developing and maintaining professional and lay networks with the aim of promoting the autonomy and self-management of patients and improving their quality of life.
• Upskilling for professionals
  Specially designed training in which specialists receive advanced training in the methodology of social therapeutic case management, with a focus on methodology and coordination (interprofessional collaboration) as well as specific case management and visualization software (ideally with an interface to the EPR in the future).
• Funding
  In addition to the benefits for patients in terms of the content of offerings, the aim is to reduce healthcare costs. The project involves developing a model for the long-term funding of these services.
• Improving quality of life
  Improving the quality of life of patients and promoting and fostering their health literacy.
• Networking
  Establishing, expanding, and maintaining professional and lay networks for those affected on an individual basis.
• Preventive healthcare
  Contributing to more prevention and reducing health costs.
• Advanced training
  Upskilling specialists with a focus on methodology and coordination (interprofessional collaboration).