Strategies for digitalizing the hospital of the future

Abstract

Digitalization cannot be understood as an off-the-shelf product, bought as aone-time purchase in awarehouse. It rather requires aconstantly developing vision, which comes with acontinuous transformation process, hand in hand with strategic innovation management. Thus, digitalization means understanding the digital maturity level of an enterprise and the digital skills of the employees. Besides an investment in products, asuccessful digitalization process also necessitates consideration of the cost to release employees from their obligations in order to contribute to the process as well as for adedicated and continuing staff training and education program. While digitalization in Germany is underdeveloped regarding both the national health infrastructure and the level of digitalization in hospitals, German clinics are recognizing more and more the importance of digitalization and are initiating digitalization strategies. In this regard, we can learn from our European partners, who have partially established advanced and innovative solutions. Looking into these flagship projects can help to see potentials and to identify valuable building blocks for our own strategy.