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D.1: Intelligent management of networked hospitals - a digital simulation game

Context and goals

Contact: Prof. Dr Alfred Angerer (ZHAW)

As hospitals become increasingly specialised in medicine, the complexity and fragmentation of individual disciplines also increases. At the same time, this circumstance encourages thinking and acting within a predetermined framework and in bound processes ("silos"). The result is a lack of interdisciplinarity among the working groups involved and different interests in the pursuit of standardised objectives. With increasing specialisation, it becomes all the more difficult to network the individual disciplines and bring them together again. The hope of halting this process of fragmentation is therefore based on digitalisation.

By developing an innovative didactic digital health solution, a digital hospital management simulation game will be used to demonstrate and quantify the complex interrelationships of a hospital. On the other hand, members of management, executives and (non) medical staff with management functions should be taught how to manage networked organisations in order to train their decision-making. With the aim of increasing effectiveness and efficiency in the healthcare sector and raising awareness of the need for digital transformation, the PC-based serious game contributes to conserving resources and improving quality in the healthcare sector.

Planned results

The result should be a simulation tool that provides a clear benefit and, in particular, answers questions regarding interdependencies in hospitals, the effect of individual measures on hospital performance and the benefits of digitalisation for management. During the simulation, participants are asked to slip into the role of a hospital manager and develop an understanding of networked thinking by using various management tools. The final success of the simulation can be quantified by collecting key figures.

Contribution to overall innovation

The main innovation is the development of a simulation that does not yet exist in this form and is based on a holistic modelling approach. This will make it possible to take on several perspectives and shed light on the challenges in the context of the respective discipline from their point of view. The added value of the project lies in particular in the holistic and strategic approach to digital transformation. The focus is on the application of various management tools and performance indicators, ultimately with the aim of supporting stakeholders in the development of their advisory and training services.

Knowledge contributions from the project

No news available.

Partners

Success is based on a solid partnership, which is why a large number of partners are involved in the project, whose participation guarantees its overall success:

Winterthurer Institut für Gesundheitsökonomie (WIG)

The Winterthur Institute of Health Economics (WIG) at the ZHAW is a centre of excellence for economic and business management issues in the healthcare sector. With many years of experience in the field of digital health, it knows how to organise efficient processes in the healthcare sector. The institute specialises in the areas of hospital management, VBHC and change management, among others.

Institut für Computational Life Sciences (ICLS)

The Institute of Computational Life Sciences (ICLS) at the ZHAW specialises in the development of parameterised models of discrete processes based on various commercial and free simulation environments and their use in tools for optimisation and decision support.

KPMG AG

KPMG is a leading consulting firm in the areas of digital transformation, auditing, strategy development, supply chain, legal, process and structural consulting and pursues the objective of creating added value for stakeholders in the healthcare sector. The focus here is on inpatient service providers and the federal government and cantons (health authorities, FOPH).

Contact us

Prof Dr Alfred Angerer

Winterthur Institute of Health Economics
ZHAW School of Management and Law
8401 Winterthur

+41 (0)58 934 66 72

alfred.angerer@zhaw.ch

www.zhaw.ch/de/sml/institute-zentren/wig/