The coming years, demand for healthcare will increase exponentially, resulting in increased pressure on the decreasing number of healthcare providers. A digital transition of healthcare is needed in order to be able to keep offering widely accessible, quality care.

Unfortunately, the healthcare sector has difficulties keeping up with the trend of digitalization in comparison with other sectors. This project aims to bring to light why the healthcare sector is struggling with the process of digitalization. Through this exploration it endeavors to design a solution with the intention of facilitating the digital transformation of the Reinier de Graaf Gashuis (RdGG). To keep the project scope limited it was decided to focus on digitalization of colorectal cancer care.

The following methods were used during the research phase of the project:

1) Conducting a literature review that explored the current state of affairs regarding digitalization in the context of colorectal cancer care and methods for digitalization of care processes.

2) Observing interactions between healthcare professionals and colorectal cancer patients and observing during meetings with different stakeholders in the RdGG.

3) Conducting interviews with colorectal cancer patients, healthcare professionals and organizational employees.

This led to the creation of a colorectal cancer patient journey map. The map displays the care process and reveals its ‘non-digital state’. The result showed that mapping a complete care process in a clear way is challenging. Most care processes are not linear or fixed; there are different treatment options and exceptional circumstances. It was discovered that there isn’t a journey mapping format available that is simultaneously comprehensive and user friendly.

The research outcomes revealed numerous factors hindering the digital transformation within the RdGG, some of which include:

1) The complexity of hospitals makes it difficult to keep overview over the process of digitalization.

2) Not all digital resources are perceived in a positive light, one reason being that they sometimes clash with existing workflows or care processes.

3) Patient journey maps and care pathways can help to prevent this from happening, but there are problems with the making of, managing and use of journey maps.

4) There are issues in the communication between healthcare professionals and organizational employees.

The following design goal was created:

Design an interactive journey mapping tool for care professionals and organizational employees at the RdGG, that helps to better comprehend care and digitalization processes, by offering overview, knowledge and easy communication.

This led to GoMedFlow. A design created to help hospitals transition into smart hospitals. It utilizes journey mapping as a facilitator for the digital transformation of healthcare. GoMedFlow offers:

1) Overview in the current state of affairs of digitalization of care processes

2) The opportunity to easily and cooperatively form, maintain and analyze care pathways and patient journeys.

3) Aid to effectively implement digital resources in care processes, assuring digital resources fit well within the care processes.

4) Easy communication between different stakeholders in the RdGG; healthcare professionals and organizational employees

Using GoMedFlow results in an efficient deployment of employees and resources in the future.