NVAVG

Netherlands Society of Physicians for People with Intellectual Disabilities (NVAVG)

The NVAVG (Netherlands' Society of Physicians for people with Intellectual Disabilities) was founded in 1981 as a scientific professional association. The main objective is to improve the quality of medical care for children and adults with an intellectual disability. Virtually all physicians, working in this field, are NVAVG members.

Since the foundation the NVAVG aimed at a formal recognition of the specialization of intellectual disability medicine and an eligible educational training. This was successful. In the year 2000, the Minister of Health recognized the medical care for people with an intellectual disability as a new specialism, which enabled the start of a specialist training for Intellectual Disability physicians. Since December 2000, this educational training takes place at the medical faculty of the Erasmus University in Rotterdam. It is a three-year postgraduate training, resembling the training for general practitioners. During the training education in scientific research in the field of ID medicine plays an important role. Each trainee has to do a research project and submit and present a scientific report. Some trainees present their project at an international congress or publish the results in an international scientific magazine. Since the start of the educational training 67 trainees have obtained the title ID physician. (in Dutch: Arts voor Verstandelijk Gehandicapten, abbreviation: AVG)

The NVAVG has close contacts with the government, parents’ associations and professional associations of behavioural experts and paramedical disciplines. There also is international co-operation within IASSID and MAHM.

Four times a year, the NVAVG brings out a magazine, called TAVG. Furthermore, interdisciplinary courses and workshops are being organized. The accredited post-graduate course system is similar to the one for family doctors and specialists for the elderly people. Every 5 years these professionals have to be registered and yearly they have to attend 40 accredited hours of post-graduate education. Various guidelines have been accomplished, mostly based on original scientific research. For example: epilepsy, psychofarmaca, gastro oesophageal reflux disease, hearing and visual disabilities, infection prevention, population screening for women, ethical directives for scientific research, family planning for people with ID.

The most important objectives for the near future are:

· to make ID-healthcare accessible for every person with an intellectual disability in the Netherlands

· to continue determination of the quality criteria for ID-physicians

· promotion of the specialism in the Netherlands

· stimulation of scientific research in the field of ID medicine

· to create more possibilities for trainees of the basic curriculum for medicine and more opportunities for scientific traineeships

· to increase the number of trainees for ID specialist

· to encourage efficient cooperation and coordination of the healthcare for people with ID between different professionals in the medical field

· further development of new and already existing medical guidelines

· promotion of international co-operation.

Secretariat NVAVG
BTC kantoor 201
Postbus 545
7500 AM ENSCHEDE

Tel. 0878 - 759 338

E-Mail: secretariaat@nvavg.nl