Success with a digital health service

Østfold Hospital wanted to improve everyday life for cancer patients and joined forces with technology company Diffia and Sykehuspartner to develop a digital solution that would enable more patient follow-up at home. The 'Innovative Patient Pathways' collaboration received funding, expertise and guidance through our public-private partnership scheme, Innovation Partnerships.

'Innovation Partnerships are a smart way to tackle societal challenges. The scheme makes it easier for the public and private sectors to work closely together to develop new technology and new ways of working that address unmet public needs,' says Senior Adviser Sunniva Jonassen Fjelde.

The collaboration between Østfold Hospital and Diffia has resulted in the Nimble Homewards app. It enables healthcare professionals to follow up with patients easily and securely using digital forms to assess symptoms, text and image messaging, and measurements such as weight and temperature.

The solution enables healthcare professionals to monitor patients digitally at home while they are receiving treatment from the hospital. It integrates with clinical systems, ensuring thorough documentation and straightforward administration. In addition to Østfold Hospital, six other hospital trusts have expressed an interest in purchasing the app.

'I believe we all benefit from this. Patients receive better healthcare, the hospital can provide better healthcare, and businesses can develop and sell sustainable solutions that the healthcare sector urgently needs,' says Ingunn Olsen, Head of Innovation at Østfold Hospital Trust.

'This partnership has been successful because users have helped shape Nimble. This has enabled us to create something that meets real needs and makes everyday life easier for both healthcare professionals and patients. Another key factor has been our strong collaboration with Sykehuspartner, which has resulted in deep integration with the hospital's core systems. This is essential for effective digital health solutions,' says Soheil Dabestani, CEO of Diffia.

Technology company Diffia was founded in 2013 with the aim of streamlining communication and documentation in hospitals. Drawing on its extensive knowledge of hospitals and the systems around them, as well as some momentum from the COVID-19 pandemic, which gave hospitals an added incentive to find effective tools, the company has successfully brought its solutions to market.

We have provided advisory and funding in several rounds. In total, Diffia has received NOK 15 million to develop digital collaboration tools. The Supplier Development Programme and the Norwegian Agency for Public and Financial Management also provide expertise and guidance in implementing the Innovation Partnership.

'Now it is about scaling up to reach more hospitals, departments and patient groups. The potential is significant because Nimble addresses challenges in the clinic while ensuring that patients at home receive effective follow-up – whether they only need to complete a couple of forms or require more intensive support,' says Dabestani.

'Remote patient monitoring is important. Many people in Norway live far from a hospital and would prefer to stay at home while still feeling well cared for. Diffia's solution has significant potential, including internationally, and we are excited to hear about their plans for the future,' says Fjelde.