Smart Health From the Hospital to the City

The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the transition of health systems from “hospital” to “city” thanks to smart devices aimed at health promotion through the deployment of ICT in urban contexts. Worldwide, the pandemic has triggered a rethinking of the healthcare system according to the prevention principle, characterized by the usage of advanced technology, which can widely re-orient markets and public action in the field of public and private health services. The chapter will consider the impacts of such innovations and the challenges for the regulatory framework, with a special focus on the Italian context. First, it outlines the main global and EU strategies for digital healthcare. Second, it focuses on the use of smart devices as tools of health prevention. Third, it highlights critical aspects regarding competition and privacy. Finally, the author reflects upon the centrality of the city as a crucial actor for urban health innovation and its upcoming regulatory challenges.

Pilot Research to Develop a Nursing Digital Health Capability Framework in Chile

The Global Digital Health Strategy emphasizes digital health workforce development to reach a sustainable health system. In Chile, a digital health capability framework to support the transition towards digital health and workforce development is still missing. A survey will be applied at a national level. The Development of a Chilean Nursing Digital Health Capability Framework will identify the capabilities of nurses in digital health innovation and improve the quality and safety of healthcare nationwide.

A Digital Health Innovation to Prevent Relapse and Support Recovery in Youth Receiving Specialized Services for First-Episode Psychosis: Protocol for a Pilot Pre-Post, Mixed Methods Study of Horyzons-Canada (Phase 2)

Background Psychotic disorders are among the most disabling of all mental disorders. The first-episode psychosis (FEP) often occurs during adolescence or young adulthood. Young people experiencing FEP often face multiple barriers in accessing a comprehensive range of psychosocial services, which have predominantly been delivered in person. New models of service delivery that are accessible, sustainable, and engaging are needed to support recovery in youth diagnosed with FEP. Objective In this paper, we describe a protocol to implement and evaluate the acceptability, safety, and potential efficacy of an online psychosocial therapeutic intervention designed to sustain recovery and prevent relapses in young adults diagnosed with FEP. This intervention was originally developed and tested in Australia and has been adapted for implementation and evaluation in Canada and is called Horyzons-Canada (HoryzonsCa). Methods This cohort study is implemented in a single-center and applies a pre-post mixed methods (qualitative-quantitative convergent) design. The study involves recruiting 20 participants from a specialized early intervention program for psychosis located in Montreal, Canada and providing them with access to the HoryzonsCa intervention for 8 weeks. Data collection includes interview-based psychometric measures, self-reports, focus groups, and interviews. Results This study received funding from the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation (United States), the Quebec Health Research Funding Agency (Canada), and the Canada Research Chairs Program. The study was approved by the Research Ethics Board of the Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux de l'Ouest-de-l'Île-de-Montréal on April 11, 2018 (#IUSMD 17-54). Data were collected from August 16, 2018, to April 29, 2019, and a final sample of 20 individuals participated in the baseline and follow-up interviews, among which 9 participated in the focus groups. Data analysis and reporting are in process. The results of the study will be submitted for publication in 2021. Conclusions This study will provide preliminary evidence on the acceptability, safety, and potential efficacy of using a digital health innovation adapted for the Canadian context to deliver specialized mental health services to youth diagnosed with FEP. Trial Registration ISRCTN Registry ISRCTN43182105; https://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN43182105 International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) RR1-10.2196/28141

Zwischenbilanz beim KHZG - „Das Gesetz wird die Krankenhausplanung nachhaltig verändern“

Vor rund sechs Monaten ist das Krankenhauszukunftsgesetz (KHZG) in Kraft getreten; das Bundesamt für Soziale Sicherung (BAS) nimmt Anträge bis Ende des Jahres an. Dr. Reinhard Wichels, Geschäftsführer von WMC Healthcare, und Prof. Jörg Debatin vom Health Innovation Hub (hih) ziehen Halbzeitbilanz.