Buurtzorg
Self-organized nursing teams revolutionizing home care in the Netherlands, embodying radical decentralization, team autonomy, and democratic principles.
Current assessment of this organisation · With caveats
The model still works - the funding system does not pay for it →
Organization Overview
Buurtzorg (Dutch for 'neighborhood care') is a revolutionary home care organization founded in 2006 by Jos de Blok. The company has become a global model for self-organization, with over 10,000 nurses organized into small, autonomous teams of 10-12 professionals serving local neighborhoods.
Decentralization Principles
How this organization implements self-organization
Small autonomous teams of 10-12 nurses
No management layer - teams manage themselves completely
Direct patient relationships without bureaucratic overhead
Minimal back-office (50 people supporting 10,000+ nurses)
Organizational Specialties
What makes this organization unique
- Teams hire their own colleagues and manage schedules
- Holistic patient care replacing task-based nursing
- IT platform (BuurtzorgWeb) for peer support and coordination
- Highest patient and employee satisfaction in Dutch healthcare