“Being seen as innovators” – how status matters in the digitalisation of healthcare

Digitalisation in the health care sector has picked up speed in recent years, but what drives health care professionals to adopt new technologies? The answer is more complex than one might think. Research from Halmstad University shows that emotions and status play crucial roles when healthcare is digitalised.

“Healthcare professionals’ interest in digital technologies is about more than just functional benefits”, says Luís Irgang Dos Santos, who defended his thesis in December of last year.

Two people in scrubs looking at a tablet pointing at it. Photo.

Digitalisation in healthcare is evolving rapidly. But behind the technological advances lies a complex story of human reactions, emotions and strategies for change. In his thesis Value Creation and Digitalisation in Healthcare: Technology Adoption and MedTech Firm’s Capabilities, Luís Irgang Dos Santos examines how healthcare professionals and medical technology (MedTech) companies deal with the challenges and opportunities of digitalisation.

Luís Irgang Dos Santos has compiled five articles using interviews, surveys, literature reviews and observations. These articles provide insights into different digitalisation processes in healthcare and explore how healthcare professionals and MedTech companies embrace technological change. The research aims to provide healthcare organisations with better strategies for digitalisation, help medical device companies develop more accurate solutions and contribute to more efficient healthcare services for patients.

A key finding is that healthcare professionals’ willingness to use new technologies is not solely driven by functional benefits such as efficiency and cost savings. The emotional aspects of technology play an equally important role.

“They care deeply about the emotional aspects of technology use and the symbolic value of being seen as innovators. With AI specifically, many are motivated by the feeling that they’re contributing to advancing healthcare technology by being early adopters”, says Luís Irgang Dos Santos.

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Collaboration is key

The study also highlights the importance of collaboration between healthcare professionals and MedTech companies. The research shows that successful digitalisation requires the active involvement of both parties – not a one-way communication where technology is just ‘delivered’, but a dynamic value co-creating process where technology is developed in consultation with end-users.

“Technology cannot simply be delivered as a ready-made solution. For digitalisation to work in practice, the experiences and needs of healthcare professionals need to be integrated into the development process”, he explains.

MedTech companies play a crucial role in this collaboration by combining technical expertise with a deep understanding of the specific requirements of healthcare. By building relationships and tailoring technology to the needs of users, companies can create sustainable solutions that actually work in practice.

Pandemic as a catalyst

Luís Irgang Dos Santos’s research began before the covid-19 pandemic, giving him a unique opportunity to follow the digitalisation of healthcare during both stable and turbulent periods. The pandemic was a powerful catalyst that accelerated the roll-out of digital solutions and showed how quickly healthcare can adapt to change.

“It was fascinating to observe how healthcare workers adapted their practices as new information about the virus and vaccine became available. This clearly illustrates the importance of being able to manage rapid change”, says Luís Irgang Dos Santos.

In the wake of the pandemic, digitalisation has continued to accelerate. AI and other digital technologies offer great opportunities to improve the quality and efficiency of care. At the same time, questions arise about how to preserve the human connection between carers and patients.

“The challenge of integrating advanced technologies while preserving healthcare’s essential human element is complex, and it requires input from many perspectives.”

Luís Irgang Dos Santos’s research shows that successful digitalisation in healthcare is about more than just technological innovation – it requires an understanding of human motivations, close collaboration and a long-term focus on the balance between technology and care.

“I’m grateful that my research somehow contributes to ongoing discussions among academics, practitioners and policymakers about finding this balance”, concludes Luís Irgang Dos Santos.

Text: Lovisa Essunger

Top photo: iStock

Portrait photo: Ida Fridvall