Management

Two thesis prizes for studentHealth Care ManagementPatricia Herber achieves double success with her master thesisIn 2009, Patricia Herber was not only the recipient of thethesis prize for students of the iBMG master programme inHealth Care Management but also of the thesis prize awardedby the Dutch Association of Health Care Executives (NVZD) forher thesis “Voorzorg voor zorgpaden”(clinical paths precautions).The thesis was prepared under supervision of Sylvia Elkhuizen, PhDand Prof. Jan Vissers, PhD (second assessor).The subtitle of the thesis – “a search for factors that play a role inassessing whether the clinical path method is of added value to andcompatible with an organisation” – clearly explains the contents ofthe thesis. Many health care institutions are developing clinical pathsthat would help organise the care processes of certain patient groupsand to harmonise these with the hospital organisation. However, theprerequisites that should be met for successful implementation ofclinical paths are not always paid attention to.On the basis of a literature search Patricia compiled a list ofprospective indicators that enable an organisation to assess whetherclinical paths are of added value to and compatible with theorganisation. To structure the many indicators found, Patriciadistinguished between basic principles, pre-conditions,and influences and consequences. Basic principles inthis study are the principles that underlie demanddrivencare, such as a mission, vision andorganisational aims that depart fromdemand-driven care. Pre-conditionsnotably determine the chance ofsuccessful implementation of clinicalpaths. They include the availability ofmarket information, ICT-potentialsand the extent to time-slots can beagreed upon. Lastly, influencesand consequences are principlesrelating to organisationalfactors that should be takeninto account. Thus the