Ellen Bastiaansen - the new HPIM student

Ellen’s thesis highlights the need to improve healthcare efficiency. “During my student job at a specialised mental healthcare facility, I noticed that the process from first patient contact to treatment could be streamlined.” Her thesis focuses on managing waiting times because “vulnerable patient groups, such as those with addiction or eating disorders, are highly motivated to seek treatment at the first point of contact. However, if the waiting time is too long, their motivation can fade. And waiting times are never zero.”

Ellen’s academic journey perfectly combines her bachelor’s degree in Health Sciences with her master’s in Healthcare Policy, Innovation and Management. She graduated in Health Sciences with a specialisation in mental health and a minor in prevention.“I have always been interested in psychology because I wanted to understand the decision-making process. But I also became interested in prevention in my first year of Health Sciences, so I took on an extra challenge and followed both specialisations.”

Ellen happily filled her spare time throughout her bachelor's years with extracurricular activities. “I even think those activities were the best part of my bachelor’s experience. They shaped who I am today.” Ellen helped organise large student football events and served as a student assessor for the MUMC+ executive board. “Attending those board meetings inspired me to pursue a master’s in Healthcare Policy, Innovation and Management because, in the future, I would like to become a board member myself.”

The master’s programme recently introduced a new hands-on curriculum. It features seven Authentic Professional Tasks related to the organization and management of health services, and economics and governance of health and care. These real-world challenges integrate the knowledge, skills, and professional attitudes students develop throughout the programme in longitudinal learning tracks. “My favourite experience was the hospital administration simulation. Other students and I engaged in serious gaming with realistic data to create a hospital policy, working together as a team of board members.”

Ellen is part of the first cohort to experience this reformed programme. “Since it’s a new curriculum, some things run smoother than others, but we are actively involved in improving things. The teaching staff engages with us and listens to our feedback.” In the new curriculum, Ellen and her fellow students are continuously engaging with literature in interactive learning teams and work with experts from practice to complete their Authentic Professional Tasks. “Besides literature, there is also a focus on soft skills and teamwork.”

The ever-evolving healthcare sector keeps Ellen on her toes. “It never gets boring. That’s why after my master’s, I would like to pursue a position at the Dutch Federation for UMCs or as a quality assessor in a hospital. Eventually, I see myself in management and coordinating roles within the healthcare sector”

Text: Ruben Beeckman