Positive Health is a concept with a proven track record, on a small scale, and may be an answer to global health problems. Based on experiences in Positive Health in the Netherlands and with respect to transition management, three phases can be identified: inspiration, implementation and embedment. The tips included in this handbook appear universally applicable, looking at best practices and experiences in the Netherlands and, on a smaller scale, also in Belgium, Japan and Iceland. There are similarities in relation to the process and differences in the method of implementation. The culture- and country-specific themes vary, such as the organisation and infrastructure of care per country, business organisation culture (bottom up/top down), and having a group-oriented or individual focus. In the various countries where experience has been gained with Positive Health, there are differences as to for which target group Positive Health was first implemented. It is important that the concept can be aligned with existing initiatives and level of urgency, and that people in a leadership role embrace Positive Health to further the implementation in their country. We are working hard on further implementation research and effect. In the Netherlands, we started with primary care, but, over the course of time, the Positive Health method has been widely disseminated (e.g., to youth, social domain, mental care, public health, sustainable employability, hospital care and elderly care). Although, within Europe and beyond, primary care takes on many different forms, at its core, primary care is for care providers to assess what their patients need, and that always starts with a good conversation (i.e., the alternative dialogue). If reading this book has inspired you, and you would also like to start working according to the Positive Health concept, think of which health issues Positive Health could help to solve, and start with gaining experience in applying the alternative dialogue model. Forming coalitions of the willing will further develop cooperation, within the general medical practice as well as the local community, region and country.
