Creating a Regional Healthcare Network: People First

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Digital Health
• Health Informatics

Background:

• Care organizations in Apeldoorn aim to enhance care for independent elderly and psychiatric patients.
• A regional digital healthcare network is proposed to facilitate inter-organizational collaboration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the relevance of a regional healthcare network for care providers.
• To identify key functionalities required for effective digital healthcare collaboration.

Main Methods:

• Semi-structured interviews were conducted with care providers and staff.
• The USE IT model guided the interview framework.
• Qualitative data analysis was performed on interview transcripts.

Main Results:

• Care providers require aligned activities and integrated care agreements for the target patient groups.
• A high relevance was found for a digital communication and collaboration platform.
• Key functionalities include a communication platform, accessible patient information, care provision transparency, and knowledge access.

Conclusions:

• A regional digital healthcare network is crucial for improving care coordination and provision.
• The network should prioritize features that streamline communication and information sharing among providers.
• Implementing such a network can lead to more efficient and effective care for vulnerable patient populations.