Making Sense of Digital Technology in Healthcare

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The module ‘Making sense of digital technology in healthcare’ is the second module within the learning line Adoption of Digital Technology in Healthcare of the Master Health and Digital Transformation. The module builds around real-life digitalization developments and related realisation and implementation trajectories in healthcare. The development of informed tools, such as patient portals, virtual  reality movies and shared decision-making digital tools are used as illustrative examples to challenge students to reflect on and apply the various lenses from the previously given module 2: The multimodality of a digital society. These challenges include real-life projects on supporting individuals (patients, health care personnel, clients or citizens) on lifestyle, health care or self management options, with the goal of providing high-quality and personalised healthcare solutions. The  underlying notion is that the value of digital tools is determined by the sense-making it produces for those who  are using the tool and/or are affected by the tool. For example, digital tools could have beneficial effects on  processes and outcomes.  A digital tool is not a goal in itself. It should build on the needs of the various stakeholders affected by it,  including end users, organisations, (local) government, insurance companies, patient organisations. To clarify  the crucial role of stakeholder involvement, students will be confronted with organising effective methods for  stakeholder involvement, including citizen or patient participation, taking into account issues of inequity of  underserved citizens or patients, e.g. due to low health literacy or/and low digital literacy. Barriers and  facilitators of effective dissemination and implementation of digital innovations, such as ownership and care  pathway integration, will also be discussed. Through these learning activities, students will gain a helicopter view of relevant approaches and health transformations to increase acceptability and impact of digital technology from a sense-making perspective of end-users (citizens, clients, patients, and professionals).