Technology for Better Health and Wellbeing

As Bill Gates once said, "Technology is just a tool." This sentiment holds true today as we explore how technology can enhance all aspects of our lives, especially our health and well-being. Our mission is to harness technological innovation for a positive societal impact.

Adoption of Health and Technology

Effective use of technology requires collaboration between developers and users. This is crucial for vulnerable populations, whose adoption of technology faced challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. Frameworks like the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) help us understand how technology is implemented, focusing on user experience and context-related factors such as eHealth literacy and the specific needs of vulnerable groups.

The Right to Digital Care

The development of digital care solutions by the industry will continue to impact society. Citizens who fall ill are increasingly claiming their right to hybrid care, which combines telehealth (at home) and in-person care (in hospitals or care institutions). This shift requires care organizations to be ready to facilitate these demands and develop strategies for implementing digital care systems within the framework of Dutch and EU health and care laws.

Research Community 'Stronger Together: Technology as an Ally Towards a Healthier Life for Vulnerable Individuals'

Our research community unites a multidisciplinary team of professionals from various knowledge institutes, municipalities, and companies. We are dedicated to advancing the adoption of digital care for vulnerable individuals, driving sociotechnical change with lasting societal impact. Our focus areas include:

1. Connecting digital innovations to sustained social implementation: ensuring that technological advancements translate into practical, long-term benefits for society.

2. Cultivating the right to digital care: Investigating under what conditions individuals can choose digital care and asserting this right.

3. Aligning Care Laws with Hybrid Care Pathways: ensuring Dutch and EU regulations support the integration of hybrid care models.

Our Approach

To achieve our goals, we prioritize societal impact from the outset of our educational and research development. Together with experts, we define the societal impact we aim to achieve and identify relevant funding opportunities, some of which may already be secured. Addressing legal challenges, we collaborate with the Master Health Law and Technology program at the University of Groningen and other institutions.

By focusing on these areas, we aim to make technology a true ally in improving the health and well-being of vulnerable individuals.

Join us in our mission to create a healthier society through the power of technology.