La fédération Association Nationale pour le Traitement á Domicile de l'Insuffisance Respiratoire Chronique (ANTADIR), the national French system for CRI patients, was proposed in a 1978 study written by Andre Ludot and established under his direction in 1980. The national organization was proposed as a way to observe the results (by establishing a national observatory), to establish more uniform services across the nation (through the development of additional regional associations), and to provide several cost-saving functions (such as mass purchasing of capital equipment). Leadership from the regional associations, including ALLP and Association d'Entraide des Polios et Handicapés, were instrumental in the founding of ANTADIR, which was intended to enhance the role of the regional associations by providing a national observatory. Today, data collection and reporting on population-based outcomes remain among the most important functions of ANTADIR.
The development of regional systems throughout France to make services more geographically accessible to CRI patients was mandated by national legislation in 1991. Today, La fédération ANTADIR features 26 nonprofit regional associations that provide 24-h service, 7 days a week. Providing both medical specialty care and home treatment, this network currently serves 50,000 ventilator-assisted or oxygen-dependent adults and children, comprising nearly all ventilator-dependent patients and 70% of those receiving home oxygen therapy in France. ANTADIR is considered to be unique for its national scope and extensive regional organization, as well as its extensive database.
Jessie Venegas
— 2/04/2008
