Tuesday 10 March 2026 | 13:30-14:30
Stream: Populations
Session format: Workshop

Part One: It's not suicide, it's cardiovascular disease: somatic health in patients with severe mental illness

People with severe mental illness live on average 15–20 years shorter than the general population, mainly due to physical illness. Ukom’s investigation of “Inger’s story” demonstrates how mental illness can overshadow acute and chronic physical disease, and how system factors, legal understanding, and collaboration impact patient safety. This session presents key findings, reflection questions, and recommendations to strengthen holistic care for this patient group. In this session, we will present key reflection points, dilemmas, and insights for improvement work, with a special focus on prevention, collaboration, and legal challenges.

After this session, participants will be able to:

• Understand how mental illness can overshadow physical disease and affect patient safety.
• Identify system factors and legal challenges that influence healthcare for this group.
• Use reflection questions and recommendations to strengthen holistic treatment and prevention in their own organization.

Åshild Vistnes van der Veen Oslo University Hospital and Stavanger University Hospital; Norway

Part Two: Vestfold Integrated Healthcare for Prevention of Frailty

Presentation of a new care pathway for elderly living with frailty and multiple conditions. The main element in the pathway is an integrated multidisciplinary approach Built on WHO’s framework of healthy aging (ICOPE) with emphasis on a comprehensive geriatric assessment. Making a person-centred care plan based on “What matters to you?”. The team consists of a doctor with geriatric knowledge, a specialized nurse in geriatrics, an occupational therapist, physiotherapist and a clinical pharmacist. Half of the healthcare professionals are employees in the hospital and the other half in the community services.

After this session, participants will be able to:

• Know the potential in integrated health care for elderly people living with frailty.
• Know how to implement an adaptable model to this group of patients.
• Start developing good care pathways based on WHO principles for building intrinsic capacity and thereby prevention of functional decline.
  

Marte Sofie Wang-Hansen Vestfold Hospital Trust; Norway