Best Practices in Organizing Digital Transformation: Qualitative Case Study in Dutch Hospital Care
BackgroundThe health care sector faces increasing pressure, with demand outpacing supply and multiple challenges in accessibility, affordability, and quality. The current organization of health care systems is unsustainable—exacerbated by labor shortages and escalating expend...
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JMIR Publications
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Journal of Medical Internet Research |
| Online Access: | https://www.jmir.org/2025/1/e63576 |
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| author | Tanja Schiffelers Kaya Kapteijns Laura Hochstenbach Bas Kietselaer Esther Talboom-Kamp Marieke Spreeuwenberg |
| author_facet | Tanja Schiffelers Kaya Kapteijns Laura Hochstenbach Bas Kietselaer Esther Talboom-Kamp Marieke Spreeuwenberg |
| author_sort | Tanja Schiffelers |
| collection | DOAJ |
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BackgroundThe health care sector faces increasing pressure, with demand outpacing supply and multiple challenges in accessibility, affordability, and quality. The current organization of health care systems is unsustainable—exacerbated by labor shortages and escalating expenditures in Europe, particularly the Netherlands. To address these issues, hospitals are increasingly adopting digital transformation strategies. This digital transformation involves the systematic implementation of digital technologies and processes. To achieve high-quality hybrid care, hospitals must integrate digital health care seamlessly into existing workflows. However, there is no definitive strategy for implementing these transformations.
ObjectiveThis study examines how Dutch hospitals organize their digital transformation, the strategies they employ, and the best practices they follow, to provide evidence-based recommendations for hospitals embarking on similar initiatives.
MethodsA qualitative multicase study was conducted using purposive sampling. A total of 11 Dutch hospitals were invited, and 8 participated. Professionals—project or program managers of digital care, or advisors in policy, management, strategy, or related positions—from these hospitals took part in semistructured interviews. Topics included digital transformation strategies, organizational structures, barriers and facilitators, and lessons learned. All interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using directed content analysis.
ResultsAlthough hospitals organize their digital transformation in different ways and with different teams or departments, they encounter similar facilitators and barriers. Inspired by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research, the ExpandNet Scaling Up framework, and the Hybrid Health Care Quality Assessment, these factors were grouped into the following categories: the structure of the digital program, cultural factors within the organization, financial factors (internal or external), political factors (internal or external), patient needs, resources and skills, and technical factors.
ConclusionsDespite variations in implementation, hospitals share key challenges and enablers in digital transformation. Common factors—such as organizational culture, financial resources, and technical infrastructure—may serve as foundational elements for effective digital transformation in hospital care. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-bc33bf712cd0410590db58e9db43f942 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1438-8871 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | JMIR Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Medical Internet Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-bc33bf712cd0410590db58e9db43f9422025-08-20T02:15:23ZengJMIR PublicationsJournal of Medical Internet Research1438-88712025-05-0127e6357610.2196/63576Best Practices in Organizing Digital Transformation: Qualitative Case Study in Dutch Hospital CareTanja Schiffelershttps://orcid.org/0009-0009-3443-6738Kaya Kapteijnshttps://orcid.org/0009-0003-6889-2148Laura Hochstenbachhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-2854-1055Bas Kietselaerhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-0096-8594Esther Talboom-Kamphttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-9917-9052Marieke Spreeuwenberghttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-5798-0041 BackgroundThe health care sector faces increasing pressure, with demand outpacing supply and multiple challenges in accessibility, affordability, and quality. The current organization of health care systems is unsustainable—exacerbated by labor shortages and escalating expenditures in Europe, particularly the Netherlands. To address these issues, hospitals are increasingly adopting digital transformation strategies. This digital transformation involves the systematic implementation of digital technologies and processes. To achieve high-quality hybrid care, hospitals must integrate digital health care seamlessly into existing workflows. However, there is no definitive strategy for implementing these transformations. ObjectiveThis study examines how Dutch hospitals organize their digital transformation, the strategies they employ, and the best practices they follow, to provide evidence-based recommendations for hospitals embarking on similar initiatives. MethodsA qualitative multicase study was conducted using purposive sampling. A total of 11 Dutch hospitals were invited, and 8 participated. Professionals—project or program managers of digital care, or advisors in policy, management, strategy, or related positions—from these hospitals took part in semistructured interviews. Topics included digital transformation strategies, organizational structures, barriers and facilitators, and lessons learned. All interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using directed content analysis. ResultsAlthough hospitals organize their digital transformation in different ways and with different teams or departments, they encounter similar facilitators and barriers. Inspired by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research, the ExpandNet Scaling Up framework, and the Hybrid Health Care Quality Assessment, these factors were grouped into the following categories: the structure of the digital program, cultural factors within the organization, financial factors (internal or external), political factors (internal or external), patient needs, resources and skills, and technical factors. ConclusionsDespite variations in implementation, hospitals share key challenges and enablers in digital transformation. Common factors—such as organizational culture, financial resources, and technical infrastructure—may serve as foundational elements for effective digital transformation in hospital care.https://www.jmir.org/2025/1/e63576 |
| spellingShingle | Tanja Schiffelers Kaya Kapteijns Laura Hochstenbach Bas Kietselaer Esther Talboom-Kamp Marieke Spreeuwenberg Best Practices in Organizing Digital Transformation: Qualitative Case Study in Dutch Hospital Care Journal of Medical Internet Research |
| title | Best Practices in Organizing Digital Transformation: Qualitative Case Study in Dutch Hospital Care |
| title_full | Best Practices in Organizing Digital Transformation: Qualitative Case Study in Dutch Hospital Care |
| title_fullStr | Best Practices in Organizing Digital Transformation: Qualitative Case Study in Dutch Hospital Care |
| title_full_unstemmed | Best Practices in Organizing Digital Transformation: Qualitative Case Study in Dutch Hospital Care |
| title_short | Best Practices in Organizing Digital Transformation: Qualitative Case Study in Dutch Hospital Care |
| title_sort | best practices in organizing digital transformation qualitative case study in dutch hospital care |
| url | https://www.jmir.org/2025/1/e63576 |
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