SmartCareNet

Description

The players in the Swiss healthcare system are facing major challenges. Overall, they are experiencing a transformation of the care system in two ways: On the one hand, through a shift from a purely supply-oriented to a demand-oriented system, and on the other hand, through digitalisation and the associated disruptions. With technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence, new care environments can be created that can process situational and context information (Irizarry, Gheisari, Williams, & Roper, 2014), allowing the establishment of completely new intelligent health and care concepts to be offered (Kofler, Gerber & Schmitter, 2018; Holzinger, Röcker, & Ziefle, 2015). With the increased use of sensors and actuators, more and better quality data will be available in the future, which, if correctly evaluated, will make processes more efficient and offer a more sustainable use of resources. However, technological developments also mean that new care and supply models have to be considered as a whole. Today, however, only a few nursing facilities or hospitals can imagine developing their services beyond their institutional boundaries or in cooperation with other providers, or offering their services at the care recievers’ own homes. However, these technological developments in the health sector and their use will also lead to new players having to be involved in the provision of services. New networks and partnerships, new financing models and a new stakeholder management are needed. The aim of SmartCareNet is to build a consortium of retirement and nursing homes, real estate operators and investors, and IoT providers to establish an IoT ecosystem for smart living and facility services in the Swiss elderly care industry. SmartCareNet enables the introduction of the first nodes of the internet of things, consisting of networked sensors and actuators located inside and outside buildings (e.g. in retirement homes, SmartHomes, special clinics, etc.). Thus, the system enables the creation of intelligent environments. In addition, the smart provision of services and the development of new and attractive FM care and supply offerings is promoted through the networked use of technologies (beyond the institutes’ boundaries) and within the consortium. This preliminary study develops the conceptual basis for the main project, identifies relevant technologies and systems, as well as the needs of selected stakeholders in the Swiss healthcare landscape with regard to the development of new services. In cooperation with them, questions relating to the introduction of new technology and change management will also be clarified.

Key data