Published on 12.07.2019 under News
Innovation team develops network concepts for WFG Kreis Soest
The matrix innovation consultancy team has developed two concepts for the economic development agency in the Soest district in the past few months: on the one hand, the team designed the “digital network for medium-sized businesses” and, on the other hand, it developed the “health kiosk”. Both topics were also flanked by the successful acquisition of funding.
Advancing digitization - this is the goal that companies in all regions are currently pursuing. In the Soest district, Anna Czeschik's innovation consultancy team has now supported the development of innovative concepts and submission of funding applications for two digitization projects: While the “Digital Network for SMEs” focuses on digitization in companies, the “Health Meeting Point” should relate to the health sector. The applications were submitted on the one hand to the “DWNRW Networks” program of the Ministry of Economics, Innovation, Digitization and Energy of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, and secondly to the “Land.Digital” program of the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture.
Digital network for medium-sized companies: empowerment for companies
Support companies in digitization by removing obstacles, providing advice and helping with implementation - this follows this principle "Digital Network Mittelstand" (DNM) of the Soest district.
This regional network consists of companies, digital pioneers, digitization experts, universities, already existing networks and initiatives. The DNM helps companies to actively and independently develop an individual digitization strategy. So not only should a digitization network be built, but companies are also supported in the systematic development and implementation of digitization topics and projects. The Soest and Lippstadt district economic development agencies have submitted the concept for the development of the DNM with the help of matrix innovation advice.
The three central goals of the DNM:
- Create a culture of digitization
- Build digitization competence
- Serve digitization demand
The DNM does not want to digitize the region itself, rather the DNM should remove obstacles to digitization and infect the traditional economy of the region with a digital guiding principle, build up and secure the necessary competence and bring together digital demand in the region with regional and supraregional offers, so that the region of is digitally sustainably digitized internally and by itself.
The work of the DNM is led by two so-called digiscouts. They act as "digitization agents" and take on the role of consultant, networker, and intermediary.
Participative methods in networking
The methods with which the DNM wants to work can all be designed in a participatory manner, which is an important concern of the matrix consultants. “With modern event formats such as hackathons or innovation camps, we want to bring companies into an active role so that they can draw a concrete picture of digitization in their companies, that is, they are active designers,” explains Anna Czeschik from matrix.
At the same time, participation always means empowerment: companies are encouraged to confidently advance their own digitization.
Health meeting place: digitization in health care
The matrix team developed a second project with the WFG Kreis Soest in the field of digital health care. The problem of the shortage of doctors in rural areas is becoming more and more urgent. Digital offers can help ensure patient care, reduce the workload of specialist staff and thus improve the quality of life in a region.
The Project "wfg.medPULS" consists of two elements, both of which propose digital solutions for medical care in the district.
- Digital guides
- Digital health meeting point - "Health kiosk"
Digital guides support doctors
Digital guides are to be used to advise, educate and support medical practices. They have both knowledge of technical software and hardware that doctors can use as well as the necessary sensitivity with regard to the everyday life of medical staff. In addition to specific advice on products and methods, an important task of the pilots is to promote the networking of doctors in the district: Under the keyword community building, the pilots try to connect the groups - with the aim of enabling contact between colleagues who, for example, opt for certain digital applications and want to exchange ideas with others.
In all activities of the guides in the field of digitization, the specific benefit for the individual practice and the individual doctor should always be in the foreground, for example: How can I use an online appointment system to reduce the rate of "no shows" (expired appointments ) in my consultation hours and thus care for more patients with less overtime?
Health kiosk as a contact point for citizens
The health kiosk for the population can certainly be seen as the heart of the project. The digital health meeting points are intended to serve as a contact point for citizens who need health advice. In addition to treatment options, prevention, progress monitoring and health promotion should be the main focus.
These digital health meeting points should ideally be created where there is already a meeting point within the community, for example near the weekly or supermarket, a café or club or a church institution. Seating, opportunities for refreshment and play facilities for children should ensure the feel-good factor. A specialist ensures medical-technical support in the health meeting point.
The digital health meeting point should comprise two components:
- A regular video consultation with a GP.
- The installation of an e-health kiosk that citizens can use independently to monitor vital data such as blood pressure, oxygen saturation, weight and temperature.
“Both project elements, guides and meeting point, help to improve medical care in the Soest district without losing sight of human contact. At the same time, this increases the attractiveness and quality of life of the district, not only for young families and medical staff, ”explains Anna Czeschik. Because: Good health care makes the district more attractive for families and young employees, which can also help to meet the skilled labor needs of established employers. Thus, a continuation in the long term in cooperation with large employers would be conceivable. Companies in the health industry such as pharmacies are potential cooperation partners for the continuation, as are medical practices in the region.
Contact Person
Are you interested in our approaches to target group participation? Then speak to our team of experts.
dr Anna Czeschik
