Anneke Westerlaken: 'Not all technology is complicated'

In the morning she taught MBO students, in the afternoon Anneke Westerlaken stood on the mainstage of Zorg & ict. In both places she discussed care technology and how technology transforms work in care.

"Technology is going to help us keep healthcare available." That was the conclusion reached by Anneke Westerlaken, chairman of the board of trade association ActiZ. Before that, she had used no uncertain graphs and tables to show the enormous demand for care that is coming our way.

With 485,000 employees in nursing home care and district nursing, the sector Westerlaken represents is bigger than ever, she told me. And still managing to recruit people. But we won't make it with that.

Self-reliance

Technological solutions are therefore necessary.wer These are already in full use, she says. Not only has this increased productivity in district care, it has also increased the self-reliance of citizens. Think of medication dispensers, stocking helpers, voice-controlled reporting or screen care. Thanks to smart sensors and home automation, care providers and informal caregivers can respond more quickly to incidents.

New generation

She also took that message with her from the MBO. Nursing students are working in abundance with AI and ChatGPT, but in their internships they hardly encounter modern healthcare technology yet. "So we are also going to focus mainly on the new generation that is already much more used to working with technology," Westerlaken says. "We have to facilitate that new generation of caregivers. It's really a different generation of caregivers who are on the job market. They have different expectations of using technology."

Scheduling and planning

While hospitals doubt that AI is going to help solve healthcare staffing shortages, Westerlaken is more positive. "In elder care, we do see some AI applications that help with the work as well," he said.

AI in healthcare can help with rostering, scheduling and a variety of administrative issues, Westerlaken believes. It can also help analyze health patterns and provide support recommendations. Even in the future, she foresees caregivers having a digital assistant or colleague. But when asked by the audience about the use of AI, there is a sobering response, "I've never seen AI wash anyone!

Daily business

Not all technological solutions are complicated and innovative, Westerlaken emphasizes. "Many technological solutions are part of ordinary life. We see the picture frames, we know the facetimen, all ways in which normal technological everyday things are already completely incorporated into healthcare. We're going to build on that."

As an example, she cited the Pre-Care Circles, where a group of local residents support and monitor each other. "Those also work with technology, but that's just with WhatsApp. Therefore my appeal: don't make everything 'healthcare technology.' Focus directly on society, on the consumer. Don't try to specialize technology, but socialize it!"