It is the great by-catch of the Veendokters project: two young GPs have permanently based in Barger-Compascuum. With that, the Veendorp has regular ‘own’ GPs and stops the Flexdokters project at Veendokters. A lot has been learned and that knowledge is now also used in other villages.
Dirk Andriessen and Lieve den Boer have put their signature and took over the Veendokterspraktijk. To the delight of the village and umbrella organization Doctor Drenthe. This may be celebrated, because in 2019 Barger-Compascuum threatened to lose its general practice.
General practitioner Van der Wal then retired. Two years she had searched in vain for a successor. At that time, young general practitioners no longer wanted their own practice and no longer work full -time or more. Drenthe already had a general practitioner shortage, especially in the southeast. 1,700 patients threatened to sit without a doctor.
Umbrella organization Dokter Drenthe triggered a whole new way of working in the village: Veendokters/Flexdokters. With changing GPs who kept the practice running for a short or longer period of time. Patients went to do much more digital themselves and the doctor’s assistant took the contact out. As a result, there was immediately one-on-one contact between the doctor on duty and the patient. Could it be handled by telephone or digitally? Great, so there is more time left for patients who do have to go physically to the doctor.
Because of the Veendokters/Flexdokters project, Dirk Andriessen and Lieve den Boer came to Barger-Compascuum. Eventually they wanted to stay.
Practice assistant Jeanet Scheper of the Veendokters project/Doctor Drenthe knows why: “They started to love the residents of Barger-Compascuum and Van Drenthe. But the new way of working of Flexdokters has also been an argument. That is why the GPs have less Romps tape, more control over their own agenda and more direct contact with their patients.
Scheper is also proud of the inhabitants of Barger-Compascuum. “They not only had to get used to a whole new working method and sometimes help it, they have also seen a lot of different doctors passing by in the last five years.”
Veendokters in Barger-Compascuum became an example for other general practices. Fifteen GP practices in Drenthe have since been affiliated with Flexdokters. FlexDokters stimulates practical holdership, non -profit. Scheper: “A number of doctors have taken the decision to set up a practice in this spirit elsewhere. In Nieuw-Weerdinge, observer Marlies Zandwijk has taken over a practice.”
Two other temporary doctors start one at Assen and at a place to be determined in Southeast Drenthe. Among the many temporary forces were also doctors who saw no salvation in Drenthe as a location location. In the meantime, Scheper hopes to increase the number of new practical doctors in the region. “Whether they are settling here, in the area or elsewhere in Drenthe: we are happy with every regular doctor.”