Innovative progress through digitization of nursing activities: success factor digital coach

written by Angela Ivanova

Which methods and technologies are suitable for turning the living environment of older adults into a "digital coach"? How can carers be motivated to use new technologies to anonymously collect medical, emotional and behavioural data? And how can such technologies be used to develop new forms of assisted living? In the context of these questions, two student groups from the University of Applied Sciences in Aschaffenburg have worked under the direction of Prof. Dr. med. Carsten Reuter on a survey and desk analysis with questions on regulatory and legal framework conditions and the impact of the use of innovative mental health support.

The German innovation consulting company INI-Novation GmbH has already successfully completed several cooperation projects with students from Aschaffenburg University of Applied Sciences with its management consultancy specializing in innovation management. The reason for the current cooperation is that INI-Novation wants to develop approaches for a simplified procurement and use of innovative eCare technologies for the project CAPTAIN, funded by the EU program Horizon 2020, in order to ensure a sustainable use in the after-care support phase. Two student groups conducted a survey with various CAPTAIN stakeholders and also applied desk research methods to complete the research.

Successful cooperation continued

"The students are able to demonstrate impressively that our previous path to orienting ourselves along the actual value-chain from technology to caregivers has to be placed in the foreground in order to identify possible obstacles for customers and stakeholders purchasing and using these technologies. At least as important for the successful operation of these so-called eCare systems is the analysis of the final advantages and disadvantages for the user. The unadulterated view of the students on the topic has broadened our perspective", commented Dr. h.c. Wolfgang Kniejski, Chairman of INI-Novation. His colleague and project manager Mrs. Angela Ivanova added: "The analysed framework conditions in the procurement process of public and private users help us to recognize better the added value for our users, and to transfer this knowledge to the CAPTAIN project. In a midterm, this will ease the burden on urgently needed specialists in nursing and will support the digital transformation and the practical use of those  systems."

Ceremonial certificate handover

The representative of the INI-Novation GmbH Mrs. Ivanova emphasized that the developed approaches will surely continue within the project. As a “thank you” for the work, she presented a certificate to the student groups on March 15th.

Background information

The Information Management Institute (IMI) was founded at the beginning of 2011 and is a scientific-academic institution of the Faculty of Business and Law at the University of Aschaffenburg. IMI conducts work and projects in applied research and knowledge transfer in the field of business information management. The academic topics represented in IMI largely correspond to the teaching areas of the professors working in the institute. Furthermore, the publication of scientific writings, the organization of lecture series and conferences as well as the general promotion of the open academic discourse are tasks of the IMI. For more information see http://www.imi.bayern

The INI-Novation GmbH offers leading expertise in supporting innovative business developments and strong expertise in innovation management. INI-Novation is a technology transfer specialist with practical experience in innovation financing and innovation procurement for SMEs, as well as in the development and delivery of relevant training events.

Website: www.ini-novation.com