With a new ambitious research-, innovation-, and education-oriented mission, we are now ready to tackle the challenges faced by the healthcare system and patients. This includes ensuring greater coherence across sectors, providing individualised treatment, and focusing on supporting patients in managing illnesses.
Improving Health Through Coherence and Individualisation
Although Denmark has one of the world’s best healthcare systems, there are still areas that can be improved to better meet patient needs. Patients and their relatives often experience their healthcare journey as fragmented, divided into silos that lack coherence and individualisation. Challenges also exist in the communication and transfer of vital information between primary healthcare and hospitals, between hospitals and municipalities, within hospitals, and not least between patients and their relatives.
The lack of coherence, individualisation, and support for managing one's illness leads to challenges with over- and underdiagnosis, as well as over- and undertreatment.
The consequences can be significant—for the individual, their relatives, and society as a whole. These issues particularly affect patients with multiple simultaneous conditions and those with chronic pain—two patient groups that are growing in number as the proportion of elderly citizens continues to rise. This challenge is supported by AAU’s own survey data, the Danish Health Structure Commission's report, and the current government proposal for a healthcare reform in Denmark.
The healthcare system of the future should be characterised by more coherent patient pathways that consider each patient’s individual needs. Greater coherence and a rethinking of how patients can be supported in managing their illnesses are essential. Technological solutions should be developed and implemented to support all relevant stakeholders across professions and sectors.
Success Criteria for the Mission
- Coherence: New technology that consolidates patient data and supports the healthcare system’s use of data in coherent and individually tailored care pathways, spanning both primary and specialised healthcare services.
- Individualisation: New decision-support technology for clinical practice that integrates experience, data, and evidence. This data is used to facilitate individualised treatment, resulting in more effective care where each patient receives precisely the treatment with the highest likelihood of success.
- Self-Management: Development of digital technologies that help patients manage their illness independently in their daily lives.
It is absolutely essential to establish partnerships between research institutions and collaborators, including healthcare providers, regions, municipalities, and patient representatives. Together, we can develop new technological solutions that align with patients' needs. This collaborative approach will pave the way for a healthcare system resilient to both current and future challenges.
Do you want to be part of the Health Mission?
On the Health Mission’s website, you can learn more about the initiative and your opportunities to get involved.