The PhD candidate will join the research team that investigates the developments around patient portals and personal health records (PHR) in The Netherlands. In the research we elaborate on the theoretical and methodological concept of co-creation, both as a concept of service delivery (co-creating value of a service by the person providing and using the service) and as a concept of eHealth design (involving the end user in the development process). We will study how patient portals and PHRs can advance co-creation in complex service provider networks by means of a double loop co-creation paradigm. The first study loop regards the structures, processes and outcomes of co-creation of health service provisioning in existing and experimental patient portal and PHR settings, both in the development process as in the value achieved. The second loop addresses the involvement of patients in the processes of improving the patient portals and/or PHRs. This loop takes an action research/design approach.

Within the broad research aim outlined above, and empirical nature of the research methods, there is room for sharpening the focus of the research, according to the opportunities to have access to specific settings and the preferences of the PhD candidate.

The candidate will also be involved in teaching within the bachelor Health Sciences and in the master Healthcare Management

To be a successful candidate you should have an MSc in research, health sciences, sociology or organisational studies, and be well educated in quantitative and qualitative research methods. We expect the candidate to be able to work from theoretical concepts as well as to engage with health professionals, patient, and technology providers. Affinity with technology (in healthcare) and action research and/or design studies is preferable. This requires team work and mastery of the Dutch and English language (both in writing and speaking).

We offer an appointment as a PhD student for a period of 1.5 years, with the intention of extending to a 4-year position if the candidate fulfils expectations. Remuneration will be according to the PhD scales set by the Collective Labor Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU) and will range from € 2,222 in the first year to
€ 2,840 in the fourth year. In addition, there is a fixed end-of-year bonus of 8.3% and generous opportunities for taking time off.

The institute of Health Policy & Management (iBMG) of Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR), The Netherlands, is a leading institute in health policy and management research and education. iBMG offers a bachelor of science programme, four master of science programmes, a PhD program and (inter)national executive education.

Within the health policy and management domain, iBMG brings together various scientific disciplines such as economics, law, social-medical sciences, management, and governance. Research and educational activities are closely intertwined. Our unique empirically embedded and multidisciplinary approach connects research and education within iBMG.

iBMG is located in the Bayle Building (J) at campus Woudestein of Erasmus University Rotterdam and has strong ties to Erasmus Medical Center, as well as with other schools of Erasmus University Rotterdam. Currently, iBMG hosts around 950 students, and 150 employees. The research and teaching interests and activities of iBMG are increasingly internationally oriented. The number of non-Dutch students and staff are increasing correspondingly.

A PhD position is offered within the section Health Services Management & Organisation group (HSMO).

The PhD will be employed at HSMO. The research and teaching of HSMO covers a wide range of management and organisational topics. The department covers core managerial disciplines such as financial management, purchasing, and operations, and organisational behaviour, and innovation, as well as health services domains such as patient co-creation, quality & safety, and medical leadership. Our current research specifically focusses on main trends in health services innovation, especially in relation to new technologies and eHealth. These innovations bring about significant changes for patients, provider organisations, and the networks they form. Given the dynamics of these changes, our research increasingly uses design and action research methods, in addition to more classical evaluative designs.

The research and education of HSMO is in close collaboration with international academic and health service partners across The Netherlands, Europe, the USA, Africa and China. The HSMO staff includes 4 full professors, 3 associate professors, 11 assistant professors and many PhD-students.