Project Area: Health policy and systems research
Project Summary
In the last decade, significant changes brought about by digital transformation have impacted various aspects of society, with healthcare emerging as a pivotal domain undergoing transformation. The introduction of digital health holds the potential to redefine patient care, improve accessibility and patient safety. Despite recent strides in the digital transformation of the Irish healthcare system (e-prescribing and e-referrals), notable deficiencies persist, necessitating a comprehensive understanding of barriers and facilitators to the onboarding, adoption and implementation of digital health in Ireland. With an overarching aim of identifying strategies for efficient implementation, this project encompasses four key objectives.
A systematic review (Objective 1) will draw on global best practices to inform the efficient integration of digital health solutions.
The cross-sectional survey (Objective 2) will explore patient experiences of onboarding and adoption of digital health technologies and care pathways.
Through interviews and thematic analysis (Objective 3), the perspectives of healthcare providers, executives, and digital health providers will be explored, enriching the understanding of onboarding, adoption and implementation challenges and opportunities.
Subsequently, the development of policy recommendations (Objective 4) will contribute to the Digital Health Strategic Implementation Plan (DHSIP), aligning with national priorities for health system reform and digital health infrastructure. This research not only builds on international evidence but also responds to a lack of focused studies on the Irish healthcare system’s digital transformation. By synthesising knowledge and incorporating stakeholder perspectives, this research will support Ireland toward a digital healthcare landscape, ensuring efficient adoption and implementation of digital health solutions in the years to come.
Skills Required
(If applying for this project you will be asked to outline how you meet the skills required below)
The candidate should hold a BSc and/or MSc in a health-related field. It is essential that the candidate is open to engaging with multi-stakeholder groups and prior experience in qualitative research methodology is highly desirable. The candidate should demonstrate effective communication skills coupled with exceptional time-management and organisational abilities. Furthermore, the candidate should exhibit a strong commitment to personal and professional growth.
Supervisory team:
Dr Claire Timon, PI/Primary Supervisor
School of Population Health, RCSI
Prof Ed Gregg, Head of the School of Population Health, RCSI
Prof Anthony Staines, Chair of Health Systems in the School of Nursing, Psychotherapy and Community Health, DCU
Fran Thompson, CIO of eHealth and Disruptive Technologies at HSE
Dr Cathal O’Hara, School of Population Health, RCSI
Dr Ronan Glynn, Ernst Young Ireland Partner and Health Sector Lead
Thomas Coleman, Co-Founder of Zendra Health
This project will be based in RCSI, University of Medicine and Health Sciences.
