Light as a feather, I close the door of my general practice. The smile on my face appears naturally. It was a sensible and useful day, a day that gives me energy. It's not that the distress of some of today's patients leaves me untouched, quite the opposite. But I was able to make a difference for them, together with all the people with whom I form the well-functioning network around them. And we also succeeded in giving them control over their own care.
The seamless communication between the relevant partners proceeded flawlessly. Data availability, once a somewhat vague buzzword, actually turned out to have given care a boost. Patients who needed less complex care largely proved capable of solving that themselves, and knew the way very well as soon as help from a professional was needed. The request also entered the practice well-structured, so that it was also clear who could take it on.
Problem: meaningless work
I think back to the time when there were many more promising, vague buzzwords in healthcare. The time when that smile had more trouble forming, after yet another stressed and much too long workday. Where I felt I was wasting far too much time on pointless work. Just starting up all the applications I had to work with that day cost me extra minutes. Not to mention the conclusion that there was always one that showed a malfunction.
Patients could no longer find their way in healthcare, and were waiting too long everywhere. The access time to the general practice, where easily accessible care was sought, also began to increase. The flow of information to both patients and care providers had expanded so much that virtually no one could keep track of what was truly important information. I once counted it: As a general practitioner, I had to maintain an overview of more than thirty channels through which relevant patient information could arrive. It's not surprising that the workflow became unmanageable.
Solution: requires a lot of time and energy
At the same time, there were many well-intentioned people working to solve the problems. Working groups with representatives from all sectors regularly met to make it possible, with enormous energy, to make a part of the patient file available to everyone. After years of meetings, they often succeeded, largely, for almost everyone, until at least the next update of one of the systems.
But that was a thing of the past. The NZA (Dutch Healthcare Authority), which was then reprimanded by the judge for their inadequate calculation norm of 36 hours of work for a full-time general practitioner position, accidentally turned out to have foresight. It was now at least going a long way in the right direction.
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And that was thanks to the innovators, who suddenly seemed to pop up everywhere during “the most innovative session” at the ICT&Health World Conference 2026. After the call, dozens of good ideas emerged. The jury selected 5 submissions, which showed a short pitch at the conference itself. There turned out to be brilliant ideas! How happy I was with this injection of wild, vibrant, and unexpected inspirations, which ultimately led to better care. Yes, looking back, I can only state one thing: There are problems. But there are also solutions!
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