Transforming a digital into a social innovation: rehaguide for elderly patients to improve coordination for physiotherapy after discharge from hospital

First, in an ageing society, the need for counselling, care and support is increasing: elderly patients have the desire to use individual ambulatory services, to stay independent and in their familiar context for as long as possible. Second, the Swiss strategy of outpatient before inpatient care further increases the need for outpatient therapy. Third, the introduction of Swiss DRG makes discharge planning more complicated: frail and elderly persons often need more therapy after a hospital stay to become autonomous again at home. However, for elderly

patients and their caregivers finding suitable therapies and attending them regularly is challenging. Moreover, for hospital patients who have not yet reached their functional level after the acute phase, the Swiss Health Insurance Law provides for "acute and transitional care" of a maximum of 14 days. Solutions for the time afterwards are not or only partially covered. Fourth,

the Swiss strategy for increased digitalisation in healthcare aims at exploiting potential of digital technology to provide and support suitable solutions after discharge and in ambulatory healthcare. However, in the Swiss healthcare sector, the potential of digital technology remains underexploited, and implementation of digital solutions remains low, notably for a population

with limited eHealth literacy

• Medbase AG