From online doctor to Robothond: there is no lack of ideas about how to resolve the staff shortage

« Dear care topers, how nice that you are all there! » Minister Fleur Agema (Zorg, PVV) noted on Monday afternoon in the Prodentfabriek in Amersfoort satisfied that hundreds of care providers had come to the first care top ever, to talk about the staff shortage. « The pressure on healthcare is great, » warned Agema, « the shortage threatens to get out of hand. »

Tackling the staff shortage is « my greatest priority, » Agema says since the start of her ministry. Recently she wrote That again to the room. « It is unthinkable that we let this go on its course. » In 2033 it is expected to be a shortage of 240,000 employees, Agema stated. That is higher than estimated. The shortages are increasing in all branches, but are mainly felt in care homes and home care.

During the care top – the name was reminiscent of The first residential summit At the end of last year – Care parties were allowed to present their solutions for dampening the shortage. Dozens of examples in fast pitches Two minutes came by: from Robothond Tessa who manages an older person at set times, to online general practitioners, online mental health treatment and robot-driven schedulers.

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The core of almost all initiatives: reducing administrative burdens and use much more AI, so that care providers are given more time to treat more patients. For example, a general practitioner said that people can digitally submit and explain their care demand for her seven days a week. Many simple requests can be handled quickly, which releases time for other patients. For example, space was released for four hundred new patients and the assistant received fewer phone calls and therefore more time for other things. Another care institution that was difficult to get to staff decided to throw the vacancies with countless requirements of the site and replace it with just a telephone number and the message: ‘Do you want to work in healthcare? Call. ‘ There were hundreds of reactions, mostly of side entrants.

All initiatives are placed on a new site so that parties can learn from each other. The idea for that platform came up with Agema during working visits: « I saw so many ideas. I thought: » If they all do that now, we will resolve it. Then we will make it. « 

Tireless

Agema can use the success of the care top after a turbulent week. After days of stream between her and minister Eelco Heinen (Finance, VVD), agreement was reached on the additional care and welfare agreement, which is largely focused on the same labor market deficiency. Agema may use 230 million euros annually from a reserve jar for that additional agreement, for example, to invest in care training. In addition, she can use 400 million extra from the same jar for medical technology, AI and tools for two years, in 2027 and 2028, intended to reduce the demand for staff. If a positive evaluation follows during those two years and there is enough money, the 400 million are continued. That money is for initiatives that came by on the care top.

That 400 million was less than Agema wanted, but she said, « I can live well with this. » All parties involved still have to sign the agreement. That must happen this Tuesday. After that, the supporters of various parties still have to agree. The ultimately agreement will only be presented at the end of June or early July.

‘Push’

The care top is primarily intended to give care providers « a boost, » said Agema afterwards. Because « this is all possible within current laws and regulations. »

One of the problems with such care initiatives is that they often stay small and locally. Scaling up is usually difficult. Care investor Bert-Arjan Millenaar, who sees two thousand care initiatives every year, is also surprised, he said during the top. « Sanding innovation is not always easy, but scaling up is important. Why don’t you just do that? » He cried against the room.

According to Minister Agema there is also « resistance among care providers. They sometimes find it scary ». That is why she sees for herself a « boost function ». « That’s the only way. If I start pushing from above, it certainly doesn’t work. »

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