Two new ZorgTech projects launched

This month, two new projects have been started with support from the HealthTech (ZorgTech) innovation programme. What is special is that both projects focus on residents within municipalities who are more vulnerable than others. The projects will test in practice whether two existing e-health platforms are also suitable to be used for people who are illiterate or used to be homeless. In addition, both projects investigate whether and how the solutions can be structurally financed by municipalities. With innovative applications like these, municipalities hope to keep healthcare accessible to everyone.

The ZorgTech innovation programme is aimed at getting promising innovations to find their way more quickly to healthcare in our region. One of the ways of doing this is by awarding vouchers to project consortia between technological companies and healthcare organisations. Medical Delta is involved in the content and implementation of the innovation programme. ZorgTech is a joint programme of MRDH, InnovationQuarter, Medical Delta, TNO and the province of Zuid-Holland.

Last summer, a voucher round was set up that focuses specifically on the social domain. For each consortium € 50,000 was available to be used for project costs. At the beginning of August, three consortia were awarded a voucher. To give consortia more time to submit a joint application, the submission deadline was extended to 15 September. Four project consortia submitted an application after all, two of which received the good news last week that they will receive a voucher for their project.

Project e-health platform VITR

A large part of the health backlog in municipalities is caused by the lack of knowledge about (the importance of) a healthy lifestyle. SmartVitaal developed an e-health scan and platform to make it easier to reach inhabitants and to offer fast, preventive care. VITR links personal results to local and tailor-made digital solutions. VITR is there for everyone, but vulnerable residents can benefit from it in particular. Therefore, this project, together with Erasmus MC, WMO Radar, Rotterdam City Council, Rotterdam University and Medical Delta Living Lab Vit for Life, is investigating how residents with a low socio-economic status who speak a foreign language can best be reached and activated. In addition, a feasibility study is being done to see how municipalities, health insurers and other stakeholders can structurally finance VITR.

Project blended counselling Salvation Army

While homelessness problems are increasing, municipalities have less and less budget available for WMO (Wet Maatschappelijke Ondersteuning, Social Support Act) support. Social workers have less time to provide appropriate care. With the platform 'Jouw Omgeving' (Your Environment), this project investigates whether blended (a mix of online and physical) counselling is suitable to offer a solution. Participants and employees of the Dutch Salvation Army will be given access to the existing 'Jouw Omgeving' (Your Environment) platform, where they can work on their own or with their network to achieve their goals. In addition, it is being investigated whether, and if so, how, this solution can fit in the structural funding from the municipality of The Hague. Students from The Hague University of Applied Sciences are involved in the project for research purposes. The expectation is that the solution will contribute to the self-reliance of people who used to be homeless, without placing an extra burden on care providers.