How do you successfully organize regional collaboration around information provision in healthcare? Well, by establishing clear agreements, for example. At Zorg & ICT, RSO Nederland presented eight architectural principles that help regions shape digital collaboration in a sustainable and future-oriented way.
The need for national standardization in data sharing within healthcare is great. According to top officials, the Netherlands is about ten years behind frontrunners such as Estonia and Sweden in this regard. In practice, workable solutions are now being sought primarily on a regional basis. RSO Netherlands helps with eight architectural principles that give direction to projects, choices and implementations.
"These principles provide a solid foundation for safe and efficient data exchange and help future-proof healthcare processes and projects," says Ellen Ophoff, program manager of RSO Netherlands. "They are not restrictions, not hard rules, but rather tools. They offer direction and support in making choices during implementations, they help streamline processes and make informed decisions, allowing you to approach implementations with more confidence."
8 Principles of Regional Cooperation
The eight principles:
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- People-centered
- Open standards
- Integrity and trust
- Single registration and storage
- Secondary use
- Separation of data and functionality
- Solutions that support cooperation in the region
- National, then regional, then local
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Equality
“The principles are all equally important,” Ophoff explains. “There is no order of priority. They strengthen national cohesion, allowing regions to share insights and experiences. They also help determine the impact we’re making with regional architecture by ensuring that regional information provision is more closely aligned with users’ needs.” In addition, she adds, these agreements are helpful when healthcare providers meet with suppliers and during the selection processes for new applications.
People-centered
Even though all eight architectural principles are equally important, Ophoff highlights one in particular during the session: putting people first. “The client, patient, or resident must be at the center of data exchange and decision-making. People must have access to their own health information and thereby take control of their health. They decide for themselves whether they want to share that information and with whom. This principle also takes the healthcare provider’s perspective into account.”
The principle calls for fundamentally different thinking and working, she argues. Systems and services must be designed with a focus on the user, not just from a technical solution. So applications must not only meet technical requirements, but actually contribute to a better experience for both the patient and the healthcare professional. Ophoff cites a number of key concerns to include in this principle, such as digital inclusion, listening more to users and developing a user-friendly environment.
Architectural Principles in the Region
The principles are already being applied in several regions. For example, in the Haarlemmermeer and Kennemerland region , Connect4Care is working with a regional architecture based on the eight principles. Within the 'Region Architecture' project, regional agreements have been made about technical solutions and functionalities. With a specially established Architecture Table, in which most regional healthcare organizations are involved, digital developments are tested against the principles. "We don't reject anyone, but give direction when scaling up," says program manager Paula Hoogeveen.
RijnmondNet in the Rotterdam-Rijnmond region is also actively using the principles. There, the Architecture Board meets twice a month to review new initiatives and ensure clear agreements and guidelines for digital data exchange to make sharing data smooth and hassle-free.
Project leader Sandy Vermeij: "Friction arose because projects were running alongside each other. That is why the Architecture Board was set up, which includes representatives from VVTs, hospitals and general practitioners. Thanks to the principles, we now have clear guidelines, making collaboration smoother." The principles still sometimes rub shoulders with projects in the region, she continues. "But we continue to share as much information and knowledge with each other as possible. All projects are focused on cooperation."
Ophoff emphasizes that these principles are by no means set in stone. “They are tools that provide direction for what we stand for. They are intended to further the implementation of regional information services.”
Call for national standards
At a time when healthcare is struggling with staff shortages and mounting pressures, good data exchange and regional cooperation are crucial. The call for national standards is loud, also from the audience. Participants ask whether the eight architecture principles of RSO Netherlands can be introduced nationwide. Ophoff: "Those discussions are ongoing. But our advice is: don't wait, start applying these principles in the region now."
Vermeij also advocates for national coordination. “Information sharing doesn’t stop at regional borders. The more regions that work according to the same principles, the easier it becomes to scale up solutions.”
