Many of us will hardly be able to imagine it: working at the same organisation for 37 years! Hette Kooij, Project Manager Healthcare Applications, really does complete the 37 years at GGZ Noord-Holland-Noord and then it's time for a well-deserved retirement. In the end he wouldn't have wanted it any other way: "I really wouldn't have wanted to work anywhere else, my heart really lies with mental health."
In all these years, Hette has also worked closely with CODE24, first on various modules and finally on the implementation of the entire mConsole EHR at GGZ NHN. How did he experience this cooperation and what are the most important pieces of advice a professional with his extensive experience can give? We talked to him.
How did you first come across CODE24?
"GGZ Noord-Holland-Noord was looking for a partner to build an OZIS Viewer for us, for medication review at the pharmacies. CODE24 was able to provide this in the form of the Medication Viewer.
We then jointly built several modules over the years, starting with a digital CT board to support our FACT teams. That started for us as a comprehensive Excel, but to really digitalise the CT board, we wanted something else. That's how we ended up back at CODE24, and that's how CTB24 came about. More joint development projects followed for Lab24, LifeChart and eventually the CrisisMonitor24 and Admission24. We had wishes - CODE24 listened to those wishes and made them technically possible."
You started out as a healthcare professional yourself. I'm sure that helped in the development of such modules?
"It certainly helps; my background as a psychiatric nurse and care manager has always allowed me to bridge the gap between the social workers and the techies. I understood what the social workers were saying: I knew the terminology and processes and knew exactly what they were talking about.
In addition, I always made sure that development projects always involve the healthcare professionals. That connection is essential."
What was your motivation for implementing a new EHR?
"We were with the same supplier since 1996. That's quite a long time, and we noticed in recent years that things weren't moving as fast in terms of innovation as we would like to see. GGZ NHN wants to be innovative, also in the digital field. The technology must support this. Links between various applications must be facilitated well, but this was often somewhat difficult.
We naturally already had good experiences with CODE24 from the development of the various modules - CTB24 in particular is really a great success within GGZ NHN. We now have as many as 60 boards running! We obviously did further research, but ultimately it was also CODE24's vision with its focus on innovation and the openness of the technology that won us over and made us want to take the plunge with you. It is technologically a modern platform, which appealed to us. Of course, the cost aspect also factored into our choice."
What do you hope the deployment of the full mConsole EHR will bring you?
"Our healthcare providers will soon be able to find information more easily and conveniently because all modules are optimally connected. They all work from mConsole. Linking up with external applications will also be easier, because mConsole is fundamentally 'open' - it is designed precisely so that integrating systems is not only easy but also desirable. This is something we can take into the future, and it fits with our focus on best-of-breed.
In addition, we chose to simplify certain processes. We were originally planning to move to the mConsole EHR as is , but some processes are so extensive... Think about intakes or setting up treatment plans. We are going to simplify this and we think that is a good step.
But: even after going live, of course, we continue to look for ways the EHR can be improved! The development of an EHR is never finished."
Do you have any advice for other organisations going through this kind of implementation process?
"From the supplier's point of view, you have to have an ideal way of working mapped out, so that you can take the mental health organisation by the hand. On the other hand, we as the mental health organisation have to be concrete and complete about what we need.
It's also important to regularly work out issues together with the supplier - the other day I had worked out the consent statement with Percy, our consultant from CODE24, in no time because we were able to spend some time together on it. That works very well and should happen more often. You have to do it together and I think that's at the heart of how to approach implementation projects. On the one hand, there is the cooperation between the mental health organisation and the vendor, and on the other hand also between the technicians and the healthcare professionals. You have to do it together."
How have you experienced working with CODE24 so far?
"We've always had a good customer-supplier relationship. I've always sparred a lot with Martin anyway and that bond has also become very personal, which makes it fun. Of course, not everything goes smoothly and I can also be critical, I have an opinion about everything! But Martin is very open to feedback.
"We also have the same goals, the healthcare industry has to improve. The digital solution has to be really helpful. CODE24 is working with us to make that happen, and there is room for innovation."
How would you describe CODE24 in one or two words?
"As a good partner. Yes. In a broad sense. And we don't always agree, you know. We don't have to, but there's room to be critical and I think that's important."
That's very nice to hear! Thank you so much and enjoy your retirement.
"That will definitely work out! I play badminton and billiards, I play guitar in two bands and I make stained glass ... I certainly won't get bored. Although I'll definitely be showing up at the launch of the new EHR next year!"