Using medical technology to reduce the burden on healthcare staff
John van den Dobbelsteen’s work is all about using medical technology to reduce the workload and increase the job satisfaction of healthcare staff, and to take non-clinical tasks out of their hands. He has been a Medical Delta professor since last month, with appointments at TU Delft, Erasmus MC and the LUMC.
Medical Delta is an alliance between Leiden University, the LUMC, TU Delft, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Erasmus MC, four universities of applied sciences in South Holland (University of Applied Sciences Leiden, The Hague University of Applied Sciences, Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences and Inholland University of Applied Sciences), government, healthcare organisations and businesses. Medical Delta aims to realise technological solutions for sustainable healthcare.
Introduction to Medical Delta professor John van den Dobbelsteen (in Dutch)
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Watch the video on the original website orYou have been appointed as a Medical Delta professor. What significance does this hold for you?
'I perceive it as a form of recognition. My collaboration as a TU Delft researcher with LUMC and Erasmus MC spans several years, marked by collegiality and goodwill from all parties. This collaborative spirit has positioned me where I am today. The appointment as a Medical Delta professor serves as confirmation of this and provides an opportunity to further fortify our collaboration. It opens up additional avenues to shape and guide new initiatives, complementing our existing endeavors.'
Could you briefly outline your areas of expertise?
'My expertise comprises two primary domains. Firstly, medical process engineering—a discipline aimed at advancing research on new medical technologies within the broader framework of diagnostics, therapy improvement, and patient-focused solutions. Unlike traditional approaches, medical process engineering focuses on the integration of emerging technologies.
This is particularly challenging given the increasing influx of medical technologies into hospitals, where healthcare personnel may lack fundamental training in their usage. Consequently, my work centers on streamlining this integration, particularly in the context of operating rooms. We aim to provide comprehensive support to diverse healthcare teams, including medical specialists, planners, and lab technicians, enabling them to extract tangible value from innovative technologies.
'I oversee both the Clinical Technology bachelor and the Technical Medicine master's program, responding to the evolving landscape of healthcare by fostering the education of future healthcare professionals.'
Secondly, I serve as the director of the Clinical Technology program—a collaborative initiative involving TU Delft, LUMC, and Erasmus MC under the auspices of Medical Delta. This role entails overseeing both the Clinical Technology bachelor and the Technical Medicine master's program, responding to the evolving landscape of healthcare by fostering the education of future healthcare professionals.'
Read the rest of the interview on the Medical Delta website.