Users
Implementation will only be successful if users from the target group are both willing and able to use the e-health application.
Ensure acceptance, accessibility and usability for patients and the public.
If the technology requires input from a patient, relative or the public, will they find the product attractive and easy to use? Is the technology useful? Consider how patients and relatives currently manage their health, what their habits are and what tools they currently use. Remember that everyone is different. Some people have limited vision or other limitations; some people find instructions difficult to understand. Can you make the product more accessible? Is it worth adapting the design now or doing so in the future (e.g. after testing the application)? If the technology consists of different parts, can users choose the part that is most relevant to them? These tools can help with this:
Flash3000.nl [How to make websites more accessible for older people]
Website with practical tips on how to make websites more accessible for older people.
Discuss the motivation and concerns of employees.
Check the support for the technology among the various groups of employees. Also check how motivated the teams are to use the new technology. Have any of them already used this technology elsewhere?
Listen to employees' concerns – which may be justified – and to their ideas for increasing the success of the project.
Adjust the role of employees and provide training.
Develop new positions and job descriptions if necessary. Set new learning objectives (some of which will relate to building confidence in one's own judgement, rather than mechanically following protocols). Develop training and offer it to employees. Remember: using technology usually requires training in the workplace and in a team setting, not just sitting in classrooms. Allocate sufficient budget for this and take into account the possible deployment of additional staff.
Promote social learning.
One way to gain confidence in using a technology is to shadow someone with the same function who is enthusiastic about it and confident in using it. This way of learning not only leads to the development of skills, but also supports people in developing a positive attitude.
Support collective awareness and communities of practice.
People need to understand new technologies – sometimes by getting together and expressing frustration first. This can be the first step towards acceptance. Both staff and patients can benefit from being part of “communities of practice” (working groups or networks of people who share an interest in something and try to improve their skills). Online patient communities, for example, are often good sources of knowledge and wisdom about how to deal with a condition. Try to involve these communities when introducing patient-focused technology.