Purpose
The overall aim of the DigiRemote research project is to investigate how digital technologies can be scaled, adapted and evaluated to ensure high-quality remote care for post-operative thoracic and cardiac surgery patients in both Norway and China. This project included developing services, processes, and adapting technical solutions to achieve scalable digital remote care services, beneficial to patients, medical service providers, and society.
Project description
Remote health and care is becoming a key solution to the major medical and economic challenges of following up patients with chronic diseases, both in China and Norway. The focus of this project was to combine technological, medical, economic, design and management expertise in testing, adjusting and validating the digital remote care services. Studies with Chinese hospitals and patients were conducted, informed by the experience and previous studies from remote care in Norway, assessing the medical, economic, and experiential value of the solution.
As part of this project, AHO conducted design research within a hospital in Shanghai in connection with a clinical study of the use of a new digital remote care platform. During 8-months of field work in Shanghai, PhD student Zhipeng Duan, organised a series of workshops and prototyped key service touchpoints of the remote care service with doctors and patients. Several contributions were made along the patient journey, including enhancing patient education and supporting medical device distribution. Work was also done to enhance the cultural orientation toward rehabilitation within the clinic.
Results
Through this research, AHO worked to develop a better understanding of situated and relational approaches for working across a plurality of cultures and practices in service design.
