Recommendations for Establishing a Master's Degree in Digital Health Services

Area of Science:

• Digital Health
• Health Services Management
• Rural Health

Background:

• Rural regions face unique challenges in healthcare delivery.
• There is a growing need for specialized digital health services.
• Existing master's programs may not adequately address rural healthcare needs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present actionable recommendations for designing experience-based master's programs in digital health services.
• To share lessons learned from establishing such a program in a rural Norwegian region.
• To provide a framework for enhancing digital health competence in underserved areas.

Main Methods:

• Program development based on practical experience.
• Incorporation of stakeholder testimonials.
• Analysis of student research quality and impact.
• Evaluation of program collaboration and funding models.

Main Results:

• The program successfully increased digital health service competence in the region.
• Close collaboration between local health services and students was identified as crucial.
• Sustainable funding from employers for students proved essential for program success.

Conclusions:

• Experience-based master's programs can effectively boost regional digital health capacity.
• Key success factors include strong partnerships and employer involvement.
• The proposed recommendations can guide the development of similar programs in other rural settings.