University of Twente Student Theses
Transforming Care Pathways with Digital Technologies : A Case Study in High-Grade Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
Berg, Loes.J.J. van den (2025) Transforming Care Pathways with Digital Technologies : A Case Study in High-Grade Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma.
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| Full Text Status: | Access to this publication is restricted |
| Embargo date: | 25 July 2025 |
| Abstract: | Background: The pressure on healthcare systems is rising due to an aging population, limited resources, and changing patient expectations. Care pathways streamline processes within specific patient groups to enhance quality, and digital technologies like telemonitoring and telecommunication are emerging as solutions. However, it remains unclear how care pathways should integrate these technologies for optimal quality improvement. Objective: The aim of this study was to explore how care pathways can be transformed through the integration of digital technologies to enhance patient outcomes, patient experience, clinician well-being, and healthcare equity. This research focuses on redesigning the diagnostic process for non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients to improve care delivery. Methods: The study involved two main parts: a scoping review to identify validated methodologies for redesigning care pathways with digital technologies, and a case study applying the Rijnstate approach. The Rijnstate approach, a non-validated methodology developed through practical experience at Rijnstate Hospital, was enhanced with data mining and process mining techniques and applied to the high-grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma care pathway. The case study aimed to identify improvements in the redesign by evaluating its impact using historical data and a deterministic analytical model while assessing the added value of incorporating quantitative methodologies into the Rijnstate approach. Results: 14 articles address the integration of digital technologies in care pathway design. Identified methods included among others interviews, multidisciplinary meetings, and process discovery. Digital technologies such as telemonitoring, telecommunication, and electronic patient record optimization were seen in these care pathways, but no validated methodology was found. The Rijnstate approach was supplemented with data analysis to map current processes, revealing new insights to the care team and enabling calculation for impact analysis. Potential improvements to the HG-NHL care pathway included digital information provision, self-check kiosks, medication verification, and fast-track diagnostics. These interventions reduced the workload for specialists by 16 minutes per patient and for nurses by 9 minutes, decreased hospital visits by an average of two days, and promoted equity. However, the exact magnitude of the impact remains uncertain. Conclusion: This study identified a gap in the literature regarding a validated methodology for redesigning care pathways with (digital) technologies. The qualitative methodologies found in the literature were largely incorporated into the Rijnstate approach. In the case study, the Rijnstate approach was enhanced with data analytics, which complements the defined approach by providing insights at the population level and offering more objectivity compared to the other methodologies. Data could assist in the redesign process and the estimates of its potential impact. However, the burden of data analytics may outweigh the benefits if the necessary data is not available or unreliable. Further efforts should focus on incorporating generative AI, as it might alleviate the time-consuming nature of data analysis and assist project teams in the redesign. |
| Item Type: | Essay (Master) |
| Clients: | Rijnstate Hospital Arnhem, Arnhem, Netherlands |
| Faculty: | TNW: Science and Technology |
| Subject: | 02 science and culture in general, 44 medicine |
| Programme: | Health Sciences MSc (66851) |
| Link to this item: | https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/106035 |
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