Now available: English Summary of Groundbreaking Healthcare Book

Dr. Steven P.M. de Waal, renowned author and chairman of the Public Space Foundation, is set to announce the English release of his influential book “It Will Be MY Concern: Seven Routes to a Healthy Healthcare System” at the upcoming International Leadership Association (ILA) conference in Chicago. The book, originally published in Dutch as “Het zal MIJN zorg zijn”, presents a bold vision for healthcare reform, emphasizing citizen empowerment, practical leadership, and outcome-driven care.

Timed with his participation in the global leadership event, Dr. de Waal’s work offers critical insights into leadership in the healthcare sector, particularly in the context of rising citizen influence (as he predicted in his book ‘Civil Leadership as the Future of Leadership’ (Amazon, 2018), and the need for courageous, value-driven leadership. His presence at the ILA conference, a global gathering of leadership scholars and practitioners, marks a significant moment for his work as it reaches a broader, international audience.

Dr. de Waal’s session will focus on the book’s seven transformative routes for healthcare, making it a must-attend for those invested in leadership and innovation within public service sectors. Here is a very short summary of the book:

In “Het zal MIJN zorg zijn”, Dr. Steven P.M. de Waal outlines seven key routes for improving the healthcare system in the Netherlands. These routes are grounded in practical solutions and drawn from examples of leadership within Dutch healthcare.

ROUTE 1. Stimulating Civil Leadership in Healthcare

Civil leadership emphasizes grassroots initiatives where citizens, healthcare professionals, and community leaders actively contribute to improving healthcare. This involves taking ownership of public value and operating beyond traditional roles.

Examples:

• Jolanda Buwalda & Frido Kraanen: Leaders at Omring, a care organization focused on bringing healthcare closer to patients by promoting self-reliance and preventative care.
• Igor Tulevski: Co-founder of Cardiologie Centra Nederland, who introduced HartWacht, a tele-cardiology service providing 24/7 remote monitoring for heart patients.
• Zuster Giuseppa Witlox: A leader in aiding homeless people in Amsterdam by leveraging corporate partnerships, such as those with Nokia and Ben & Jerry’s, to provide winter clothing.

ROUTE 2. Promoting Health rather than just treating disease

This route highlights the need to shift focus from curing diseases to promoting healthy lifestyles and preventive care. It stresses the importance of community and the environment in shaping health outcomes. Integrate cross-sector collaboration to address the broader social determinants of health, such as poverty and education

Examples:

• Patiëntenfederatie Nederland: Introduced decision aids to empower patients in making informed choices by themselves and from their perspective, often about complex medical issues.
• Austerlitz Zorgt: A community initiative that supports elderly care in their own village, ensuring health services are locally available and tailored to individual needs.

ROUTE 3. Financing healthcare based on (added) Value

Dr. de Waal advocates for financing models that focus on health outcomes rather than outputs, focusing on the health value delivered to patients. Reform healthcare financing to support sustainable care, rewarding providers for improving patient health rather than the number of treatments delivered. This shift could reduce unnecessary treatments and promote holistic, patient-centered care.

Example:

• Karolinska University Hospital (Sweden): A reorganization based on patient flows and outcomes, rather than volume of services provided.

ROUTE 4. Organizing care around the Practical Wisdom of Healthcare Professionals

This route emphasizes the value of healthcare professionals’ practical wisdom and expertise, advocating for systems that give these professionals more autonomy in decision-making. Decentralize decision-making to healthcare professionals, allowing them to tailor care to the specific needs of their patients. Reduce bureaucratic oversight and trust the practical wisdom of care providers to improve quality and patient satisfaction.

Examples:

• Jos de Blok (Buurtzorg): Founder of Buurtzorg, a homecare organization where small, independent teams provide personalized care, prioritizing the wisdom and autonomy of healthcare professionals.
• Riet van Denderen: A Dutch expert in addiction care who applies street-level knowledge to provide effective support for vulnerable groups.

ROUTE 5. Developing Healthcare Platforms and Platform Organizations

Utilize digital platforms and technologies to connect patients with healthcare providers and manage care more efficiently. Platforms that facilitate better interaction between patients and healthcare professionals are crucial for improving access to care and empowering patients. Promote patient autonomy through access to health data and decision-making tools, ensuring that care is more responsive and personalized. The main message here is: ‘Stop thinking it is only technical, stupid’, most of these tools make patients a more adult partner of professionals in healthcare than they are used to!

Example:

• Sabine Pinedo: Developed an E-health platform for both patients and professionals to enhance medical diagnosis and patient engagement.

ROUTE 6. Realizing Care in the Living Environment with Patient Autonomy

Bringing healthcare closer to the home environment allows patients to maintain control over their care, reducing the need for institutional care. Enhance patient autonomy by promoting self-management and localized healthcare solutions.

Example:

• Vladan Ilić (Westerdokters): Created a communication platform allowing patients to directly consult their general practitioners via an app, providing more immediate and convenient care.

ROUTE 7. Stimulating bold and courageous Leadership in healthcare

This route emphasizes the importance of courageous leadership in healthcare, where leaders take bold actions, even in the face of resistance, to foster meaningful change. Call for bold, courageous leaders who are willing to challenge the status quo and drive system-wide reform. Support leaders who prioritize patient outcomes, fight against vested interests, and push for innovative, patient-centered healthcare models.

Examples:

• Dominee Hans Visser (Pauluskerk): Known for his leadership in providing support for the homeless and drug addicts in Rotterdam and changing the place and work of Church itself in the meantime.
• Wanda de Kanter: A lung doctor who leads the anti-tobacco lobby in the Netherlands, exemplifying courageous leadership in public health advocacy.

These routes, enriched with examples of Dutch leaders, highlight Dr. de Waal’s vision for a healthcare system that values citizen engagement, professional autonomy, and outcome-based care.

Citizens and Civil Leadership Must Drive Healthcare Transformation
Dr. Steven de Waal argues that the Dutch healthcare system needs to shift from being a primarily institutional, bureaucratic structure to one that is citizen-centered. This transformation requires the active involvement of civil leaders and healthcare professionals who are empowered to make decisions that focus on improving patient outcomes rather than adhering to rigid systems and protocols.

A Call for Civic Responsibility and Systemic Change in Healthcare
Dr. de Waal emphasizes the importance of civic responsibility in healthcare. Citizens, healthcare professionals, and policymakers must work together to create a healthcare system that is more flexible, patient-centered, and oriented towards long-term health outcomes, rather than merely providing treatment.

This Book Calls for Citizen-Driven Reform in Healthcare Leadership

There is a sharp political message: the future of healthcare depends on empowering citizens and civil leadership, not bureaucratic systems. In his groundbreaking analysis, De Waal argues that top-down governmental control is no longer sufficient to address the complex needs of modern healthcare. Instead, he advocates for a shift toward bottom-up leadership, where citizens, healthcare professionals, and local leaders take ownership of the system’s transformation.

A core political message in the book is the growing disruptive power of citizens in the public arena, driven by new technologies and social media. De Waal highlights that traditional political structures and healthcare institutions must adapt or face increased public dissatisfaction and unrest. This disruption, he contends, should not be resisted but embraced by fostering civic leadership, prioritizing patient autonomy, and realigning healthcare financing to reward value and outcomes rather than volume.

Dr. de Waal’s call for courageous political action goes beyond reforming healthcare delivery – it requires dismantling entrenched bureaucratic obstacles and embracing a partnership model between citizens and the state. This transformative approach is essential for making healthcare both sustainable and people-centered in the 21st century.