From 7 to 9 May 2025, the Congress Centrum Bremen hosted the double congress DEWU Deutscher Wundkongress & Bremer Pflegekongress, in which the Institute Industrial IT (inIT) of the Technische Hochschule OWL (TH OWL) actively participated with a technical contribution at the invitation of the congress management. The care congress focused on the challenges of digitalisation in outpatient care. This topic met with a very positive response, which was reflected in the high number of over 120 exhibitors, around 350 speakers and almost 5,000 participants.
Digital assistance tool for outpatient care
inIT employee Frauke Wiegräbe from the Discrete Systems working group headed by Professor Volker Lohweg presented the AI-supported DigiHelpCare tool as part of the "AI for the home" session, showcasing specific digital solutions for outpatient care. Frauke Wiegräbe explained that the digital tool combines Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence to support the care situation at home. The system learns independently from previous care provision to evaluate the care situation entered via a catalogue of questions and to establish connections between differentiated care situations and further care steps. The DigiHelpCare tool thus provides caring relatives with an initial orientation for further possible care steps in challenging home care.
Interdisciplinary research project work & care
The DigiHelpCare tool was developed as part of the work & care research project by the inIT working group Mathematics and Authentication headed by Professor Helene Dörksen. The aim of the project was to bundle and network support services to improve the compatibility of work and care for both carers and companies and to further develop them at regional level in line with requirements.
The interdisciplinary research project was implemented under the leadership of the Centre for Innovation in the Healthcare Industry OWL (ZIG) in the Ostwestfalen-Lippe region. In addition to inIT, the partners included Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences (HSBI) - Institute for Education and Healthcare Research in the Healthcare Sector (InBVG), Westphalian University of Applied Sciences - Institute for Work and Technology (IAT), Lippe District - Future Office, Plan G and was funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the state of North Rhine-Westphalia.
Pulling together in the same direction
The basis for the development of the DigiHelpCare tool was provided by the partners in the research network. Researchers at Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences (HSBI) identified the individual needs and stress factors of carers in employment and uncovered opportunities for empowerment. The results are used to develop recommendations for action for supporting carers in employment, both in the workplace and at home.
"Our aim is to design innovative technical solutions in a user-orientated way so that reliable nursing care will be guaranteed in the interests of those affected and their relatives," says Frauke Wiegräbe. The scientist conducts research into the development of digital technologies in the healthcare sector at inIT.