Caring Technology Assessment Framework

Can you introduce yourselves?

VIVEL stands for the Flemish Institute for Primary Care. At the Flemish level, VIVEL serves as the central point of contact for primary care actors and as a platform for dialogue between these actors and with the government. VIVEL brings together healthcare and welfare actors from the primary care sector, care networks, representatives of individuals in need of care and support (PZON), informal caregivers, local authorities, knowledge and expertise centres, and hospitals.

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Together with all primary care actors, VIVEL aims to improve the health and well-being of every citizen in Flanders and Brussels. VIVEL acts proactively, responding adequately to developments in care and welfare, strengthening care networks and providers to address the needs of vulnerable individuals and their environments effectively and purposefully. VIVEL also provides strategic advice to the Flemish and Brussels governments for optimal primary care policy.

How did your project come about?

VIVEL is an active member of the learning community around the 8 principles. This project is our way of contributing to the need for practical tools to apply these principles in healthcare.

What are your project objectives? 

There are many digital tools to support the work of healthcare professionals, organisations, and networks. However, making choices can be challenging. Our project aims to create an assessment framework that helps them evaluate where a digital support tool or application delivers quality.

What does the project entail?

Our tool serves as a reflection aid for healthcare organisations and providers, prompting them to consider the use of a digital tool before implementing it. Additionally, we are working on an evaluation to determine the extent to which a digital tool meets the 8 principles, the Quintuple Aim, and the e-health roadmap. An expert panel could conduct this evaluation and share the results with healthcare organisations and professionals.

How are you proceeding?

VIVEL is leading the project. The strategic working group for e-health and e-welfare, along with care networks, was actively involved in developing the assessment framework. We are developing this based on several guidelines, including the 8 principles for caring technology, the Quintuple Aim, and the e-health roadmap.
We are also coordinating with similar initiatives. For example, we monitor the progress of the "Quality Framework for Online Assistance" research project within the Support Center for Welfare, Public Health, and Family of the Flemish government and consult with the organisation behind onlinehulp-apps.be.

Why is your project important?

Digital technology is transforming healthcare, our behaviour, and the communication between healthcare professionals and citizens. Technological tools also collect patient data.
Who manages this data? How is privacy protected? What standards must technological innovations meet now and in the future? What role do we assign to technology in maintaining or improving our health, well-being, and quality of life? How can we anticipate rather than follow every technological trend?
We believe it is important to develop tools that promote transparent communication among all stakeholders.
It is also essential that the 8 principles are used effectively, as they provide a framework for technological innovations. We want our tool to help organisations and healthcare professionals use digital solutions. This is also an added incentive for technology companies to adhere to the 8 principles.

What challenges have you had to overcome?

The biggest challenge was translating abstract and complex digital concepts into understandable language that the target audience can grasp and apply.

What lessons have you learned from this process?

We learned the importance of involving all stakeholders: only through co-creation can a useful product be achieved.
We are not alone in working toward implementing the 8 principles. We need to connect, collaborate, and learn from each other’s expertise to strengthen each other in our shared goal of making technology more caring.

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