Interventional radiologist and researcher Prof. Jim Reekers (Academic Medical Center – University of Amsterdam) has been awarded the Brilliant Failures Award Care 2014. The winner was Tuesday afternoon 9 announced during a meeting in Amsterdam in December. Reekers received the award (a modern sculpture of wood and mirror glass, designed by Syta Fokkema) awarded by jury chairman Paul Iske. Subsequently, a discussion took place about improving the error climate in healthcare.

The intention and approach

Reekers evaluated a new treatment method for fibroids (meat trees) in the womb. An embolization (close) of the blood vessels that feed the fibroid, turns out to be considerably cheaper, leads to shorter admissions and is less invasive, while quality of life is equivalent to uterine removal – the standard procedure.

The results and lessons

However, the study did not lead to more frequent use of the new treatment. De bottleneck: the attending gynecologists are not very willing to 'hand over' their patients to another specialist, namely the interventional radiologist. The title of Reekers' entry is therefore not for nothing: Results achieved in the past, offer no guarantee for the future.