Digital healthcare providers get support from industry associations
For some time now, a number of company representatives have been forming an informal network with the working title Digital Caregivers. The members of the network are supported by the industry organizations IT&Telekomföretagen and Vårdföretagarna, both of which are part of the employer organization Almega.
- When we were asked a few years ago by the industry if we could coordinate a network for digital healthcare providers, it felt natural that Lars Lundberg, business policy expert at IT&Telecom companies, and I gathered the industry in such a network. That the network would have its affiliation with us was quite natural as we are the service companies' strongest voice in our country, says Rikard Johansson, quality and ethics advisor at Vårdföretagarna, to Digital Hälsa.
Vårdföretagarna is Sweden's largest private employer and industry organization
Why did digital caregivers turn to Vårdföretagarna?
- We organize member companies that can offer solutions to the challenges of health and social care. We are also known for conducting very successful advocacy work and pursuing industry issues nationally, regionally and locally. We also have a foothold in, for example, the EU administration and among European trade organizations thanks to Lars Lundberg's assignment for the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise in Brussels. At system level, we have a great need for recruitment of skills and here digital services can be part of the solution to the challenges to be solved with the investments in modern, accessible and efficient health care with a focus on primary care, says Rikard Johansson.
What have been the main actions taken by Care Entrepreneurs to support the Digital Carers group?
- I would like to point out that it seems obvious that the people of Sweden like and want to use digital services that offer accessibility and continuity. However, given that digital healthcare providers operate in a trust industry where patients constantly have the opportunity to choose or opt out of them, the most important issue for Vårdföretagarnas so far has been to unite the participants in the network to follow our code of conduct and especially the part on business ethics," says Rikard Johansson.
There are a number of questions that need to be discussed and answered: How do companies market their digital services? Are there any ethical dilemmas?
- The second issue is to demonstrate that services are focused on patient safety. Here, companies need to develop their transparency through their patient safety reports and quality accounts. But the services also need to be researched to a greater extent," says Rikard Johansson.
IT&Telekomföretagen organizes companies in the IT and telecom industry
- "As the number of digital healthcare providers has grown, a need has emerged among these companies to create a company-wide, joint industry voice. After being contacted by representatives of a number of these companies, we at IT&Telecomföretagen decided to support the initiative," says Lars Lundberg, industry policy expert at IT&Telecomföretagen to Digital Hälsa.
How many companies are part of Digital Caregivers today?
- There are about ten companies that meet with some regularity. Sometimes there are several at the meetings, sometimes fewer, says Lars Lundberg.
What type of businesses are included in Digital Caregivers?
- "It's a relatively broad spectrum of different types of companies, from those that specialize in, for example, online psychological support to more general IT platform companies," says Lars Lundberg.