Who are the people behind our healthcare IT solutions? We would like to introduce our team to you! This time, it's senior developer Rik's turn.
Hey Rik! What is your job at CODE24 like?
“Besides programming, I’m also involved in mentoring colleagues within our team – I really enjoy doing that. Having been here for a few years, I know our solutions quite well. I mainly work on Lab24, Admission24, and the administration side of the EHR, and I’m happy to share my knowledge with colleagues. Collaborating with other teams (especially Products and Consultancy) is also part of my role. With my background in Human-Centred Design, I also enjoy working on the front-end, for example with the new mConsole theme that’s coming up.”
WHAT DOES AN AVERAGE WORK DAY LOOK LIKE FOR YOU?
“When I start in the morning, I always begin by reviewing pull requests. Is the code good? Does it align with the architecture? Then it’s usually time for the stand-up with the rest of the Development team. We discuss priorities and bottlenecks, and then get to work.
Beyond that, there isn’t really a typical workday – there are recurring meetings, of course, but otherwise it really depends on what needs to be done, how much research is required, and so on.”
What skills are most important for your role?
“As well as obviously needing technical and communication skills, you also have to be able to make connections and plan well. It’s important to have a helicopter view too – what does the part you’re working on mean in the larger context of the software as a whole, or even within the company? How does it fit for the short and long term?
On top of that, it’s quite unique at CODE24 that as a developer you also work extensively with the openEHR specifications. Our technology is built around these specifications, so we work with compositions, templates, and archetypes on a daily basis. This is something you gradually learn when you start working at CODE24.”
WHAT DO YOU LIKE BEST ABOUT YOUR JOB?
“Along with creating things, I actually really enjoy fixing bugs. It feels a bit like solving a puzzle or a game of ‘Where’s Waldo’, haha! Of course, you ideally want flawless software, but bugs will always be there. After some searching, finding where the problem actually lies is very satisfying to me.
Oh, and when onboarding or mentoring colleagues, I love the moment when the penny drops. As a child, I actually wanted to become a teacher… That didn’t really suit me, but it’s fun that a bit of tutoring is now part of my work in this way!”
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO ACHIEVE?
“In the short term: that the new theme I’ve been working on for a while goes live for our clients! Beyond that, my bigger ambition has always been to make people feel good – that our colleagues feel at home and that there is a positive atmosphere. Contributing to that is important and fulfilling for me. I also see creating good software for our clients as part of the same goal – it is my ambition to make it enjoyable to use our solutions.”
WHAT SHOULD PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT CODE24, ACCORDING TO YOU?
“At CODE24, everyone's opinion matters, regardless of who you are, your role, or how you identify. There’s space for everyone.”