1. Bern University of Applied Sciences
  2. School of Health Professions
  3. Research + Consulting services at the School of Health Professions
  4. Research areas of the School of Health Professions
  5. Digital Health innovation field
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Digital Health innovation field

With our research, we aim to ensure successful interaction between people and technology. The perceptible benefit for patients, relatives and nursing staff is always at the forefront of our research.

Due to their central position in healthcare, nursing professionals are involved in almost all digital processes in the healthcare system. Digital transformation can alleviate the shortage of skilled workers and helps to maintain high-quality healthcare.

Our research focuses on people undergoing digital transformation processes. We explore the following questions: how can we design digital solutions so they are accepted by the people who use them and bring benefits on a day-to-day basis? How can we give people the skills to use digital tools? What tasks should managers take on in digital transformation processes?

Research topics

The research topics in the Digital Health innovation field are:

  • Design of human-machine interaction
  • Digital transformation of the healthcare system
  • Artificial intelligence in the care process
  • Care@home models

Projects

  • Digital Transformation Spitex

    In the TALE project, aF&E Pflege and the Institute Digital Technology Management are supporting the digital transformation of SPITEX Bern scientifically, strategically and participatively.

    • Institute(s) Nursing
    • Research unit(s) Innovation in the Field of Digital Health
    • Head of project Friederike Thilo

  • ePartners4All: a personalized and blended care solution for child health

    In this project we develop and evaluate a platform called ePartners4All that offers blended and personalized child health (care) solution. The platform will be established in co-creation with end users and...

    • Institute(s) Nutrition and Dietetics
      Nursing
      Academic-Practice-Partnership Insel Gruppe/ BFH
    • Research unit(s) Innovation in the Field of Digital Health
    • Head of project Kai-Uwe Schmitt

  • SOCIUS - Social robots in the promotion of children's mental health

    The use of a social robot in primary schools enables digital forms of health promotion using mental health as an example, where human-machine interaction needs to be understood in depth.

    • Institute(s) Institute of Design Research
      Nursing
    • Research unit(s) Environmental Communication Design
      Knowledge Visualization
      Innovation in the Field of Digital Health
    • Head of project Friederike Thilo

  • Development of a Care@home continuing education programme

    The project aims to create a continuing education programme for Care@home to provide professionals with the skills required to understand and implement this care model in future.

    • Institute(s) Institut für Medizininformatik I4MI
      Nursing
      Institute for Patient-centered Digital Health (PCDH)
    • Research unit(s) Innovation in the Field of Digital Health
    • Head of project Kerstin Denecke
      Manuela Grieser

  • Hospital at Home care models - evaluation and quality assurance

    By developing an evaluation concept and supporting network activities for quality assurance, the project aims to promote the understanding of the success conditions of this integrative form of care.

    • Institute(s) Institute of Health Economics and Health Policy
      Institut für Medizininformatik I4MI
      Nursing
    • Research unit(s) Innovation in the Field of Digital Health
    • Head of project Caroline Schneider

  • Concept development for HaH (Hospital at Home) evaluation

    A scientific summative evaluation concept for the HaH pilot project of the Arlesheim Clinic is being developed by an interdisciplinary team.

    • Institute(s) Nursing
    • Research unit(s) Innovation in the Field of Digital Health
    • Head of project Friederike Thilo

    • Partnerships

    • ​​​​​​Einkaufsgemeinschaft HSK AG 
    • Fachhochschule Nordwestschweiz  
    • Fachhochschule OST 
    • Krebsliga Bern 
    • RADIX Schweizerische Gesundheitsförderung 
    • Spitex Verband Schweiz 
    • Swiss Center of Design and Health 
    • Universität Bern, Medizinische Fakultät und ARTORG 
    • Universität Fribourg, Soziologie, Sozialpolitik, Sozialarbeit 
    • Wirtschaftspartner 
    • Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften ZHAW 
    • Claudiana, Institut für Allgemeinmedizin und Public Health 
    • King’s Kollege London, Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery & Palliative Care 
    • Liverpool John Moores University, School of Sport and Exercise Sciences  
    • Maastricht University, Care and Public Health Research Institute 
    • Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Institut für Gesundheits- und Pflegewissenschaften 
    • Medizinische Universität Graz, Institut für Pflegewissenschaft 
    • Oxford Brookes University, Department of Clinical Health Care
    • Trinity College Dublin, School of Nursing & Midwifery   
    • Universität des Saarlandes, Institut für Sport und Präventivmedizin 

    Publications