Research team
Expertise
I am a researcher in nursing and healthcare with specific interest in the organization of healthcare teams and its impact on quality of care and patient safety, as well as the use of innovative techniques and technology in care. My mission is to support healthcare organizations and policy makers in strategic decisions through research.
Development and Validation of a Codebook for Emergency Services Data Collection in Belgium.
Abstract
This project led by the University of Antwerp in collaboration with Netwerk Verpleegkunde, VVVS (Vlaamse Vereniging van Verpleegkundigen Spoedgevallenzorg), and AFIU (Association Francophone des Infirmiers d'Urgence), is dedicated to developing a National dataset for process and outcome data of emergency services in Belgium. This initiative aims to significantly enhance the operational efficiency and effectiveness of emergency services. By creating a validated Dutch codebook for a comprehensive database, the project will enable more streamlined and accurate data collection and analysis, ultimately leading to improved emergency care and patient outcomes in Belgium.Researcher(s)
- Promoter: Haegdorens Filip
Research team(s)
Project type(s)
- Research Project
Interprofessional simulation in healthcare
Abstract
The care and welfare sector in the Flemish-Dutch border region has been facing significant challenges for several years. With the growing demand for care and an aging population, the shortage of qualified workers is expected to increase exponentially in the future. According to the Care and Welfare (NL) forecast model, the province of North Brabant is projected to experience a shortage of nearly 17,000 care workers by 2030. Additionally, the province of Antwerp is already facing a 15% shortage in filling open care vacancies, as reported by VDAB (Flemish Employment Service). Furthermore, Verso, an employers' federation, has calculated that the social profit sector in Flanders will require 46,000 new employees annually until 2026. Apart from the quantitative challenges, there are also qualitative issues where the skills provided by care professionals do not adequately align with the changing competency requirements in the field. This issue was highlighted in the Interreg VL-NL project ZORO, which emphasized the need for technological agility in care innovations, digitalization, and intra- and interprofessional collaboration. Research indicates that the work environment of healthcare providers significantly affects job satisfaction, with care environments that prioritize interprofessional collaboration experiencing fewer professionals considering leaving the profession. Additionally, there is a demand for support in developing the competencies required for digitalized care. By equipping (future) caregivers with tools to enhance their technological agility, we can empower them in their practice, foster a positive attitude toward the care profession, improve their well-being, and indirectly impact workforce retention and recruitment. To address these challenges, a key element is to provide (future) care providers with opportunities to learn and develop within robust learning environments that strongly emphasize the connection between education and the labor market, interprofessional collaboration, and technological agility. In response to these challenges and opportunities, our project aims to facilitate strong cross-border cooperation between educational institutions. The goal is to strengthen the connection between education and the needs of the care labor market by establishing hybrid learning environments. Based on the identified opportunities, we envision a significant impact by offering enhanced support to (future) care providers through powerful simulation environments and training programs that prioritize the connection between education and the labor market, interprofessional collaboration, and the evolving nature of (highly) technological care settings.Researcher(s)
- Promoter: Haegdorens Filip
Research team(s)
Project type(s)
- Research Project
Together we care
Abstract
There is a growing staff shortage in healthcare. Many healthcare professionals want to leave healthcare or are doing so. Together we care focuses on retaining healthcare professionals and strengthening their adaptive & innovative capacity. This cross-border Interreg project is a follow-up to the previous projects Stay @ work and Care2Adapt. Specifically, this project offers several free pathways for healthcare and welfare organisations: Pathway Team Champions: for team members working bottom-up to increase resilience. Pathway Leadership to captivate and engage: for managers working on developing a positive leadership style. Pathway Simuleerkracht: for nurses starting a training programme to increase resilience Pathway Care2Adapt: for employees who will fulfil a bridging function between innovation and the workplace. We are also developing an instrument to measure, among other things, resilience of individuals and teams, allowing more data-driven (to reality) action to be taken. In addition to contextual data and data from self-reports, this application will also integrate data from activity trackers, providing additional information on physiological parameters around stress and resilience of healthcare staff and teams.Researcher(s)
- Promoter: Franck Erik
- Co-promoter: Haegdorens Filip
- Co-promoter: Van Bogaert Peter
Research team(s)
Project website
Project type(s)
- Research Project