User-centred Design of the User Interface of a Collaborative Information System for Inter-municipal Dementia Team

In the Norwegian Health sector there are currently undergoing changes at local, regional and national level triggered by recent health reforms. Municipalities are facing for first time the duty of implementing new primary health services. Inter-municipal coordination (IMC) health care teams have been created to operate across borders to share costs, extend geographical range of operation and optimise resources. This study focuses on the development and evaluation of the user interface (UI) functional prototype of a collaborative information system for IMC dementia team in Norway. Employing a user-centred design approach, the interface prototype was built based on the information gathered on…

Fra behovskartlegging til innovasjon for personer med utviklingshemming – noen metodiske og etiske refleksjoner

Offentlig sektor erfarer i økende grad et behov for innovasjon og teknologiutvikling av sine tjenester. Et viktig premiss er at nye løsninger skal løse reelle og fremtidsrettede behov, og som en følge av dette har oppmerksomheten rundt brukerinvolvering økt de senere årene. Det er mangel på kunnskap om hvordan brukeropplevelser kan bidra, og mange innovasjonsprosjekter har mislyktes på grunn av manglende forståelse for behovene til dem som skal dra nytte av nye løsninger. Det manglende kunnskapsgrunnlaget utfordres særlig når man skal innovere i komplekse kontekster der mange aktører er involvert, og når sluttbruker har en kognitiv funksjonsnedsettelse. Disse utfordringene er fremtredende i…

Critical issues for employees in inter-municipal health care services: a multiple case study

Abstract Background Traditional, hierarchical government structures have recently been challenged by increased complexity, fragmented services and heavy public demand. When healthcare services become fragmented and decentralised, they require redesign. Inter-municipal cooperation is a strategy to deal with current challenges and future demographic changes. Few studies exist that can help us conceptualize challenges regarding employment in this context and inform managers in the involved municipalities. This study aims to identify critical issues for employees in inter-municipal health care services and to elaborate on how and why these issues are experienced. Methods A multiple qualitative …

Improving quality and safety in nursing homes and home care: the study protocol of a mixed-methods research design to implement a leadership intervention

IntroductionNursing homes and home care face challenges across different countries as people are living longer, often with chronic conditions. There is a lack of knowledge regarding implementation and impact of quality and safety interventions as most research evidence so far is generated in hospitals. Additionally, there is a lack of effective leadership tools for quality and safety improvement work in this context.Methods and analysisThe aim of the ‘Improving Quality and Safety in Primary Care—Implementing a Leadership Intervention in Nursing Homes and Homecare’ (SAFE-LEAD) study is to develop and evaluate a research-based leadership guide for managers to increase quality and safety compe…

Important challenges for coordination and inter-municipal cooperation in health care services: a Delphi study

Published version of an article in the journal: BMC Health Services Research. Also available from the publisher at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1472-6963-13-451 Open Access Background: Demographical changes have stimulated a coordination reform in the Norwegian health care sector, creating new working practices and extending coordination within and between primary and hospital care, increasing the need for inter-municipal cooperation (IMC). This study aimed to identify challenges to coordination and IMC in the Norwegian health care sector as a basis for further theorizing and managerial advice in this growing area of research and practice. Methods. A Delphi study of consensus development was …

Innovative Simulation of Health Care Services in the Usability Laboratory: Experiences from the Model for Telecare Alarm Services-project

In Norway, a recent health reform urged municipalities to prepare for telecare alarm services to handle alarms associated to welfare technology and telecare technology in citizens’ homes. That requires a re-organisation of health and social services in many municipalities and several are preparing to establish new telecare alarm services operated in inter-municipal response centres. In this context, the research project “Model for Telecare Alarm Services” aims to study how existing telecare alarm services in Norwegian municipalities are organised and operated, and identify critical factors when designing new models for future services. This paper presents how an innovative simulation of hea…

eHealth-Extended Care Coordination: Development of a Collaborative System for Inter-municipal Dementia Teams: A Research Project with a User-Centered Design Approach

- In Norway, a health reform was recently adopted to improve continuity of care. Services that were carried out in hospitals were transferred to municipalities. Small and medium size municipalities have established inter-municipal cooperation to provide specialized services across borders. The research project eHealth-extended Care Coordination studied the inter-municipal cooperation for assessment of dementia, identifying a need for improved communication and coordination. This paper presents the development process of a collaborative information system for dementia assessment using a user-centered design approach. Mixed methods, such as observations, semi-structured interviews and questio…

Inter-municipal cooperation in health care services: coping with the wickedness? : Doctoral Dissertation for the degree of Philosophiae Doctor (PhD)

How to deal with context? A context-mapping tool for quality and safety in nursing homes and homecare (SAFE-LEAD Context)

Abstract Objective The objective of this paper is to develop a context-mapping tool (SAFE-LEAD Context) adapted to the nursing home and homecare setting. These two contexts represent a substantial variability, but studies focusing on the types and roles of contextual factors in quality and safety in these care settings are lacking. Results We conducted a step-wise collaborative design process consisting of mapping of key contextual factors as perceived by managers in Norwegian nursing homes and homecare, then created a draft tool discussed in a consortium workshop with co-researchers, and ran an international cross-country comparison. The SAFE-LEAD Context tool is inspired by the Consolidat…

Usability Evaluation of a Collaborative Health Information System - Lessons from a User-centred Design Process

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Barriers to exchanging healthcare information in inter-municipal healthcare services: a qualitative case study

Abstract Background In recent years, inter-municipal cooperation in healthcare services has been an important measure implemented to meet future demographic changes in western countries. This entails an increased focus on communication and information sharing across organisational borders. Technology enables efficient and effective solutions to enhance such cooperation. However, the systems in the healthcare sector tend not to communicate with one another. There is a lack of literature focusing on communication and information sharing in inter-municipal healthcare services. The aim of this article is to investigate both the characteristics of communication and information sharing, and the f…