Building a sustainable healthcare service through optimal task shifting across health service levels, professional groups and the use of digital technology

Tilknytning
Fakultet for helse, velferd og organisasjon

Internationally, the mismatch between healthcare needs and resources following the increase in elderly persons and persons with chronic disease, is rapidly evolving. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates a projected shortfall of 10 million healthcare workers by 2030 (3). A 2023 Norwegian Public Report underlined the importance of task shifting and the use of digital technology in healthcare services to meet these challenges. Previous research has mainly focused on task shifting, decentralization of healthcare services, and digitalization separately, and within specific contexts or patient groups. This ph.d. project will strengthen the knowledge base for how tasks ideally could be distributed both across professional groups and healthcare levels, and when digital technology could be used to relieve the pressure on and demand for healthcare personnel. By focusing on digitalization within healthcare, and how both healthcare personnel, patients and other stakeholders integrate the technology, the project is within the PhD-program Digitalisation and Society. Additionally, the project integrates health and machine learning (ML)/artificial intelligence (AI) methods and results, which further both fits into the program, and aligns with the University College’s strategy in building connections across faculties.

Kontaktpersoner

To our knowledge, no studies have comprehensively explored task shifting across health service levels, healthcare personnel and digitalization. Through this project, we will gain new knowledge throughout the entire patient pathway. In the planned project we aim at using methodological approaches that are rarely used within healthcare research, but frequently used in computer science, design and ethnographic studies. Healthcare services need innovative solutions, and we mean that health service research could gain from innovative approaches.

The aims of the PhD-project are to:

• gain knowledge on how tasks are shared or shifted between healthcare personnel, service levels and the use of digital technology in various healthcare settings (Workpackage, WP1)

• discuss whether the task sharing or shifting is appropriate, and whether digital technology (with or without AI/ML) may improve patient pathways (WP2)

• use available registry data to predict treatment location (home, municipal institution, hospital), and which patients who require healthcare services (WP3)

Deltakere

Involverte forskergrupper

Finansiering

PhD project funded by internal fundings from Østfold University of Applied Sciences. 

Samarbeidspartnere

Associated project group members: MD Astrid Eri-Montsma is the head of the acute geriatric department at Østfold hospital trust (ØHT), which is one of the observation sites. She will contribute with her medical expertise. Fredrik Hæren is leader at “Fagskolen i Viken”, that offers further education for nurse assistants (helsefagarbeidere). Tonje Søfting Ringsrød is project leader of digitalization and innovation in Sarpsborg municipality, which is another of the observation sites.

Publisert 25. jan. 2026 15:34 - Sist endret 11. feb. 2026 07:25