Centre for Digital Innovation and Transformation in Healthcare (ZDITG)
Focus of the centre
The ZDITG sees itself as an interdisciplinary centre within the Faculty of Health and the Faculty of Economics and Society.
Its cross-faculty focus brings together various professions and drives forward new networks and developments. The ZDITG’s aim is to promote the research and implementation of digital innovations and transformative processes.
Furthermore, there is close collaboration with Witten/Herdecke University’s healthcare provision units and with companies. This enhances the transfer of theory into practice and ensures that the centre remains focused on the needs of the healthcare sector.
The ZDITG is guided by five principles – user-centredness, data-driven approaches, evidence-based practice, cost-effectiveness and a focus on expertise – in digital healthcare and the healthcare sector.
Research and teaching in harmony
The ZDITG places particular emphasis on bringing together research interests relating to digitalisation in healthcare and the health economy, both within the university and beyond. The development of joint research ideas, as well as ongoing education, training and professional development in this field, are essential to the ZDITG. Another key focus is therefore teaching with an emphasis on digital health. In this regard, the ZDITG is committed to further developing existing teaching formats, devising new ones and fostering collaboration across faculties. The ZDITG is happy to be approached regarding events and commissions in the field of digital health.
User-centred approach
The human factor lies at the heart of this transformative process. In a wide variety of contexts, human-to-human interaction gives way to interaction between humans and technology. The ZDITG tailors all changes to the needs of users. To this end, research methods from the fields of design thinking and (technology) acceptance research are applied, and ethical considerations are taken into account.
Data-driven approach
The conversion of analogue data into 0s and 1s is generating ever-increasing amounts of data. Processing this data requires new methods, some of which draw on artificial intelligence. Researchers at the ZDITG use qualitative and quantitative methods, as well as mixed-methods approaches, not only to create innovations but also to evaluate and ‘measure’ them.
Evidence-based approach
Digital innovations are intended to improve efficiency and effectiveness in the healthcare sector. Unfortunately, there is not sufficient evidence to support this claim across all areas of innovation relating to the digitalisation of healthcare. The stakeholders at the ZDITG are experienced in developing and applying evaluation methods, for example for health economic assessment, clinical outcomes or technical endpoints (usability, technology acceptance, etc.).
Economics
The costs of the healthcare system are frequently cited, as they are rising. However, other resources – particularly human resources – are also becoming increasingly limited. This has implications not only for business management but also for health economics. Digital innovations must help to improve processes in such a way as to support healthcare that is focused on the common good (purpose) and conserves resources.
Competence-based approach
The digital transformation requires new skills across the board – for patients as well as for healthcare providers of all professions and other occupational fields. Digital skills are needed to make use of digital innovations, as well as digital health literacy to access and interpret information using digital technologies. The UW/H naturally sees itself as a place of teaching and learning, not only in initial education but also in continuing professional development.
Services provided by the ZDITG
The ZDITG evaluates calls for proposals from various funding bodies (e.g. BMFTR, BMG), brings together subject-specific expertise at the University of Hamburg, coordinates the application process and provides support in identifying and involving external partners.
The aim is to facilitate match-making between in-house researchers and, in some cases, external parties, for example through keynote presentations. The involvement of companies is encouraged, as they play a key role in bridging the gap between research and healthcare provision.
With the Studium fundamentale, UW/H has a programme designed to encourage students to look beyond their own horizons. Equally, it also offers teaching staff the opportunity to learn from other disciplines by developing joint teaching and learning formats.
The ZDITG evaluates calls for proposals from various funding bodies (e.g. BMFTR, BMG), brings together subject-specific expertise at the University of Hamburg, coordinates the application process and provides support in identifying and involving external partners.
The aim is to facilitate match-making between in-house researchers and, in some cases, external parties, for example through keynote presentations. The involvement of companies is encouraged, as they play a key role in bridging the gap between research and healthcare provision.
With the Studium fundamentale, UW/H has a programme designed to encourage students to look beyond their own horizons. Equally, it also offers teaching staff the opportunity to learn from other disciplines by developing joint teaching and learning formats.
Research projects relating to digitalisation in the healthcare sector
Publications
All publications by the Centre for Digital Innovation and Transformation in Healthcare (ZDITG) at UW/H are gradually being included in the university bibliography.
Spokesperson for the ZDITG
Univ.-Prof. Dr.
Sven Meister
Chair holder
Faculty of Health (School of Medicine) | Chair of Health Informatics
- +49 2302 926-78629
Orcid ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0522-986X
Pferdebachstraße 11
58455 WittenRoom number: 1.010
Executive Board of the ZDITG
Prof. Dr. rer. medic.
Theresa Sophie Busse
Junior professor
Faculty of Health (School of Medicine) | Junior Professorship of Digital Health
Alfred-Herrhausen-Straße 50
58455 WittenRoom number: C-2.329