Bridging the Gap - Health, Technology and Intermediaries

Abstract

<p>The demands for health care services are rising steadily. To meet these demands, the <br />prevailing health care paradigm has been put under scrutiny. We have already passed the verge <br />of a paradigm shift where patients are regarded cooperative partners who play an important <br />role in their own care. In the core of this ongoing shift is technology that enables a new kind of <br />service provisioning and digitalization of services. This has created a dilemma; how the <br />patients who are not able (or willing) to use these new services can be reached? To answer this <br />question, a fresh outlook on the roles related to health service provisioning is needed. This <br />examination calls for identification of health technology intermediaries, mediators, who stand <br />at the crossroad of health, care and technology. This exploratory work will look into the <br />intermediary roles, outlining a set of skills and capabilities needed from a mediator. <br /></p>