From experiences in the Second University Hospital for Psychiatry in Utrecht it is likely that in psychiatric hospitals the need for coordination in the rehabilitation of 'chronic' patients will be rapidly increasing due to:
a. the increasing number of co-workers engaged in contact with one patient;
b. differences in discipline, leading to aims and evaluations, that are dif ficult to compare and integrate.
Multidisciplinary treatment is a discipline in itself provided that there is coordination. To that end 'general' hypotheses and common aims regarding the treatment of the individual patient should become explicit. Coordination is promoteil in that co-workers can formulate these 'general' hypotheses and common aims and can re-formulate them in their own disciplines.
The intricate and complex approach in revalidation of the chronic patient is subjected to an explorative investigation with the so-called 'plangroup'. These groups are lens closed than is usual in teamwork, since — to maintain differentiation — participation is not linzited to a regular team of co-workers. Those engaged in contact with one patient do assemble half-yearly to decide on individual lines and modes of treatment for the next period. 'General' hypotheses and common aims do become explicit this way.
Some experiences with this arrangement are discussed.