Home · Hospitals and medical practices
Support that continues after the consultation.
Most questions only come up at home: after the diagnosis, before surgery, at discharge. People who have been through the same treatment support your patients at exactly these moments. Without extra consultation time and without an IT project.
What peers achieve in the care pathway
Consultations are about findings and therapy. But how patients are coping with treatment often only becomes clear in everyday life: with fears, side effects, questions about work and family. This is exactly where people who have been through it can help.
Book an intro callNo extra work for you
A mention in conversation and a QR code on a flyer are all it takes. Registration, matching and support run through the platform and a professional, not through your care team.
Safe and clearly defined
Peers do not give medical advice. They are prepared for their role, and at any sign of crisis a professional is brought in at any time.
Not alone, even outside consultation hours
Many questions only come up between two appointments. Peers can be reached online when it matters, so your patients are not left alone outside consultation hours either. This is how we built the Swiss Sleep Circle with Bern University Hospital (Inselspital).
Facts and figures
Why it’s worth it
people aged 15 and over live with at least one of the five most common non-communicable diseases, 37% of the population.
Source: FOPH, facts and figures (2022 data)of healthcare costs are due to non-communicable diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease or mental illness.
Source: FOPH, cost study 2025 (2022 data)show for cancer: peer support improves quality of life and self-efficacy and relieves depression and anxiety.
Source: Zhang et al., 2022, meta-analysisHow it works
Getting started is simple
Integration
Together with your practice or hospital, we define where in the care pathway the programme comes in, for example after diagnosis, before surgery or at discharge. And we decide together how patients find their way to it: through a referral to existing peer programmes or through a dedicated, co-branded entry point serving as an information hub, including QR codes for flyers, waiting rooms and discharge conversations.
Registration and matching
Patients register free of charge. A professional connects them with someone who has had a similar diagnosis or treatment. The ground rules: full data protection and safety for the people affected, clear informed consent and a clear boundary between the exchange and treatment at the practice or hospital.
Reporting and impact
Patients decide for themselves how often and at what pace they exchange. Professionals keep an overview and can be reached in the background at any time for questions or escalation. We continuously measure impact and assure the quality of the programme.
Scientific evidence
Evidence-based, not just well-meant
Peer support improves the quality of life and self-efficacy of people with cancer and relieves depression and anxiety.
Zhang et al., 2022, meta-analysis of 17 studies ↗ Evidence on Oncology →Digital formats are especially valuable because in-person meetings are often not possible for reasons of infection control.
Jeffrey et al., 2020 ↗ Evidence on Cystic fibrosis →Swiss Sleep Circle with Bern University Hospital (Inselspital): blended stepped care from early detection to treatment, designed and built by restful. CoPEER with Spitex Kriens: exchange for home care clients and their families.
Evidence on 7 topics, from dementia to oncology.
Method & evidence →FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How is the exchange kept separate from treatment?
Peers do not give medical advice; they share their experience. This is set out in the programme rules and is part of how peers are prepared. Medical questions stay with your care team.
What happens if a patient is not doing well?
Peers are prepared to recognise their limits. At any sign of crisis, a professional is brought in at any time and the patient is referred to the right place.
Does it need to connect to our clinical information system?
No. To get started, a link or QR code is enough, for example on flyers, in the discharge conversation or in the patient portal. We assess further integrations on a project basis.
Is the programme available in several languages?
Yes. For programmes that need to reach several language regions, we implement the platform in multiple languages.
How much does a pilot cost?
That depends on scope, duration and support. After an intro call, you will receive a concrete quote. For healthcare projects, funding options are available, for example from Health Promotion Switzerland.
Let’s talk!
Raphael ReberStrategy & partnershipsEmail
Let’s talk about your project
Over coffee in Bern or on a video call: we are happy to take time for your needs and questions. Book a no-obligation intro call with Raphael directly.
Book an intro call (opens in a new window)restful in other settings