CZO Flex Level

In two years CZO Flex Level has developed the new system of advanced nursing training (VVO) and medical support training (MOO). Among other things, 200 EPAs (Entrustable Professional Activities) have been delivered. EPAs are the typical professional activities that encompass the day-to-day work of a healthcare professional. This provides a flexible system of learning and development routes. The Basic Acute Care (BAZ) course has also been developed on this basis.

Healthcare in the Netherlands is constantly changing and innovating. That is why it is important that care programs change flexibly. More and more complex care is possible and the care is increasingly delivered to the patient's home. This creates a new demand for care. It is very important for patients and clients that the right professionals are available at the right time and that they are trained according to the latest insights.

Healthcare professionals want to be able to make the transition from one department to another more easily, or from one type of healthcare provider to another – without having to complete a whole (further) training again. And sometimes a care provider wants to expand knowledge and skills by learning certain professional activities from training, but not all. Care institutions also benefit from flexible learning routes. It is useful if care providers are interchangeable between certain departments. They want care providers to learn what fits their patients' or clients' care needs. They should not learn too much, but certainly not too little. In addition, healthcare institutions want to have the opportunity to quickly retrain staff if healthcare changes. Healthcare professionals, institutions and trainers must jointly respond to these developments and needs by redefining professions, functions, powers and responsibilities.

The new EPA system for VVO and MOO provides for this. It organizes a faster and more flexible influx of professionals who want to specialize or who want to perform a medical support function. They can grow along with the changing demand for care and broaden their career prospects flexibly and efficiently.

The programme is an initiative of the NFU and NVZ (Dutch Hospitals Association). The new system was transferred to the Care Programmes Board (CZO) in 2023. CZO accredits programmes and ensures their quality. With the CZO Flex Level programme, one of the agreements was implemented that the parties arranged in the Policy agreement for medical specialist care 2019 - 2022.

Within the NFU, the Future-Proof Care College (CTZ) is involved in the safeguarding and further implementation of the EPA system.