Jet Bussemaker: “Innovation in healthcare is never finished”
Jet Bussemaker, the chair of the Council for Public Health and Society, emphasizes that innovation in healthcare is a continuous process. According to her, renewal in the medical world is never quite 'finished'. She advocates for a major change in the way we look at healthcare in the Netherlands.
Bussemaker speaks about 'flipping' the healthcare system. This means that the focus should not only be on rules and organization, but primarily on the patient and the healthcare provider. By restructuring the system in this way, healthcare can become more efficient and more humane in the future.
An important part of this change are the so-called 'nurse innovators'. These are nurses who themselves come up with new ideas and smart solutions for problems in the workplace. Because they work directly with patients every day, they know better than anyone what is needed to improve daily care.
The public also plays an active role in these innovations. The best ideas from the nurses are partly chosen by the public. This approach ensures greater involvement of Dutch society in the future of healthcare and gives good initiatives a larger platform.
Bussemaker's message is clear: the healthcare sector must keep moving to meet the challenges of the future. By working closely with professionals on the work floor and being open to new ideas, the Netherlands can maintain a strong healthcare system. According to her, innovation is not an end goal, but a necessary way of working.