At the EHTEL Symposium 2023 celebrated in Ghent on 29 November, DigitalHealthUptake organised a session dedicated to implementing digital health solutions in the community. The session convened three experiences where digital health solutions are deployed to improve primary care, integrate health with social care and evaluate the benefits of home care.

Tom de Boeck and Hanne Verheust from the Flemish government highlighted the paradigm shift in healthcare delivery and presented Alivia, a digital tool to promote goal-oriented care and integrated care, including social care. After a co-design process, two pilots will be carried out in Antwerp and Southwest Flanders in the first quarter of 2024.

Dalibor Frtunik from Sorsix, a health technology company, presented the deployment of digital health in support of North Macedonian primary and secondary care services. From an initial e-appointment system to a complete EHR system, including a mobile personal health record (Moe Zdravje – i.e. My Health) accessible to all citizens. “Wide but shallow” was the implementation recipe Dalibor shared with the audience. This approach entailed to establish a wide common ground and deploy a simple solution fast.

Jéssica Morais from imec-SMIT Vrije Universiteit Brussels presented the economic evaluation approach used to assess a digital platform to support integrated home care developed in the projects ProACT and SEURO. Cost-utility analysis based on quality of life measures, healthcare utilization and social impact indicators is used to procure evidence required for local reimbursement by third-party payers.

Andrea Pavlickova from the Scottish Government moderated the debate where speakers emphasised user-centred co-design processes, start small and move fast and value assessment as three successful techniques to implement and scale-up digital health solutions in the community.

About DHU Catalyst sessions

DHU offers complimentary workshops for digital health events, seamlessly integrated into the main program or as pre-event sessions in collaboration with the organisers. Our approach involves the exploration of topics from the perspectives of demand actors, innovators, and those making impactful interventions. The catalyst sessions facilitate dynamic discussions and actions among these essential actors, enhancing the overall event experience.