From hospital wards to patients' homes: digital health innovations have already been tested and are ready for scaling up
August 2025 – Central Europe – After two years of intensive cooperation across six countries, the EU-funded Health Labs4Value project has successfully concluded its “Living Lab” pilot programme, which brought patient-centred digital health solutions from concept to reality. In Hungary, In Slovenia, in Germany, in the Czech Republic and in Poland During trial programmes, the initiative proved how co-creation and innovation can transform care pathways, empower patients and relieve overburdened healthcare systems.
Patient-centred innovations across Europe
In Hungary TritonLife Group has tested a new patient management system to streamline surgical workflows – from planning and logistics to post-operative feedback. „Tasks that previously required numerous phone calls and follow-ups are now transparent and efficient” – said Alexandra, TritonLife case manager.
in the Czech Republic The Liberec Living Lab has co-created a self-care app for spinal cord injury patients that offers guidance, reminders and guided exercises to prevent pressure ulcers. „The app helps me remember to change my posture every two hours – something I always used to forget when I was at home” – one of the patients was telling me.
Germany launched the ActiveTEP app, the first independent app to provide support for the 200,000 German citizens who undergo hip replacement surgery each year. The app has been available in major app stores since May 2025 and provides structured preparation and aftercare, helping to prevent complications and shorten recovery times.
Slovenia tested the Healthlord app, which makes rehabilitation exercises available in a simple video format. Patients scan a QR code to access personalised instructions, all without complicated logins. „After the operation, I couldn’t remember every detail, but the app reassured me that I was doing the exercises” – said a 70-year-old patient.
in Poland The University Hospital in Łódź has introduced a biometric e-signature system, which has replaced paper-based workflows. Patients now sign documents electronically on tablets, which saves time and reduces red tape. „Even older patients were able to use the system with a little guidance. This is a major step forward in modernising our workflows” remarked a nurse.
Lessons learnt
Out of all the pilot projects, two key lessons stand out:
- Early and ongoing patient engagement ensured usability, trust and real clinical impact.
- The various stakeholders – from nurses to software developers – their joint work accelerated the roll-out, despite having to contend with challenges such as staff time constraints and a lack of digital skills.
Where next?
The solutions don't stop at the level of pilot projects:
- Slovenia and Poland are also expanding their applications and e-signature systems in several hospitals.
- Germany is expanding the use of ActiveTEP through clinical trials and plans to extend it to knee and shoulder patients as well.
- Hungary is fully institutionalising the TritonLife Group’s patient care system.
- The Czech Republic is handing over its validated application to a development partner so that it can be fully rolled out using public funding.
Building a sustainable future
To ensure long-term impact, the Health Labs4Value partners are pursuing various sustainability pathways: commercialisation, institutional integration and cross-border partnerships. Together, these efforts are aimed at the Living Lab model be incorporated into the day-to-day practice of healthcare in Central Europe.
| „Health Labs4Value demonstrates what patients, doctors and innovators can achieve when they truly work together” – he said Dr Anne Postler, an employee of Dresden University Hospital. „These solutions are practical, scalable and bring almost immediate change.” |
Further information
The Health Labs4Value project aims to transform healthcare through innovation and collaboration. If you would like to receive up-to-date information on the project's progress, visit our website and follow us on social media:
Website: www.interreg-central.eu/projects/health-labs4value
Facebook: www.facebook.com/HealthLabs4Value
LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/groups/9346332/
For further information, please contact us:
Project Coordinator: István Hegedűs
Email: istvan.hegedus@kdriu.hu
Telephone: +36 70 342 6720
Funded by the Interreg Central Europe Programme, the Health Labs4Value project aims to improve the healthcare system by applying the methodology of living labs and the method of co-creation.
Slovenia
Simplifying rehabilitation support through digitalisation: Slovenia's Health Labs4Value pilot project
Ljubljana, August 2025 – In Slovenia, the Health Labs4Value project has trialled a new digital tool that makes patient rehabilitation simpler and more efficient. The aim of the pilot project was to help those recovering from injuries and surgeries in a hospital that treats nearly 100 injuries a day and where staff shortages are a daily challenge.
Previously, patients were sent home with printed manuals describing rehabilitation exercises. These were often difficult to follow, and many details were quickly forgotten. To solve this problem, the hospital team trialled the Healthlord app, which demonstrates the exercises in video format. Patients can now access clear instructions simply by scanning a QR code, without the need for registration.
| „After my hand surgery, I couldn't remember everything the doctor had shown me. With the help of the app, I could watch the exercise demonstration videos whenever I wanted. This gave me peace of mind that I was doing them correctly” – said a 70-year-old patient. |
Doctors have also noticed the change. „Patients told us that they perform their rehabilitation exercises more frequently because they trust the app. This is a positive step in encouraging active participation in rehabilitation” – he said Dr. Anja Jovanović Kunstelj, a surgeon at the teaching hospital.
The pilot programme confirmed that easy, registration-free access is essential in the first few days after an injury. More advanced features, such as personalised rehabilitation plans or remote consultations, can be added later for patients who want extra support.
Looking to the future, Slovenia plans to make the application available to patients in other hospitals and to extend its content to additional diseases. The project team is looking for partnership opportunities and funding options to ensure the long-term use and development of the application.
Further information:
MedTech – Chamber of Medical Technology and Services
Dimičeva ulica 13, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia (SI)
Web www.gzs.si ; https://medtechslovenija.gzs.si/
Czech Republic
The Liberec Living Lab has developed an app to help people with spinal injuries live independently
Liberec, August 2025 – People with spinal cord injuries face the challenges of home healthcare on a daily basis. To address this, the Czech Living Lab in Liberec, as part of the Health Labs4Value project, has jointly developed a new mobile application with patients, family members and clinicians.
The application offers users positioning reminders, guided rehabilitation exercises, educational materials and progress tracking. During testing, 20 patients and caregivers tried out the prototype and provided feedback. Their suggestions shaped the final design of the application.
| „The app helps me remember to change my position every two hours – I always used to forget that at home. Now I manage my own care with much more confidence” – said a patient, who has been living with a spinal cord injury since 2016. |
Healthcare professionals also welcomed the device. „It was an incredible experience to see our clinical protocols turned into an application. Patients are more motivated, and we can concentrate on personalising therapy instead of repeating basic reminders,” said a physiotherapist from Krajská nemocnice Liberec.
The biggest challenge was coordinating the schedules of the hospitals, the patients and the helpers. The team solved this by organising targeted mini-workshops that allowed for faster, practical testing.
The validated application will now be further developed by the technological partner, Mebster, within the framework of national innovation grants. Future plans include launching the pilot programme in other Czech spinal departments and integrating it into standard rehabilitation programmes.
Further information:
Liberec Regional Hospital
Husova 357/10, 46001 Liberec, Czech Republic
Web www.nemlib.cz
Germany
Germany launches the ActiveTEP app for hip replacement patients
Dresden, August 2025 – Around 200,000 people undergo hip replacement surgery in Germany every year. To help with their recovery, the German Living Lab has launched a pilot programme with the ActiveTEP app, which is the country's first health app to provide guidance to patients before and after hip replacement surgery.
ActiveTEP offers daily exercise programmes, educational modules and reminders during the twelve weeks following surgery. It also includes a personal logbook to track recovery progress. This helps to prevent complications, reduces pain and supports a quicker return to everyday life.
| „Before my previous operations, I didn't have reliable information about what to expect and how to prepare. ActiveTEP now provides the kind of guidance and, along with it, peace of mind that I would have needed back then” – said an older man who tried out the app. |
The medical staff also see the benefits. „The release of the ActiveTEP app is an important milestone in digital patient care. It supports both hospital treatment and aftercare, thereby easing the workload of medical staff while strengthening patients” personal responsibility" – he said PD Dr Anne Postler, the chief physician of the University Centre for Orthopaedics, Trauma and Plastic Surgery in Dresden.
The pilot programme highlighted the importance of early patient involvement in the planning process and ensuring clear communication between partners.
ActiveTEP is now available in major app stores and participating clinics. Over the coming months, a widespread clinical study will test the app in real hospital conditions. By 2026, the application is expected to expand to other joint replacement surgeries, including the knee and shoulder.
Further information:
University Hospital Dresden
Fetscherstr. 74, 01309 Dresden, Germany (DE)
Web www.uniklinikum-dresden.de/en
Hungary
Hungary is testing a digital surgical management system to improve care
Budapest, April 2025 – Surgical procedures require complex coordination between patients, doctors and hospital staff. In Hungary, the Health Labs4Value project has introduced a new digital system to streamline this process, developed in collaboration with the TritonLife Group and the Central Transdanubian Regional Innovation Agency.
The patient management system covers the entire surgical procedure process – from the initial consultation and cost estimate, through scheduling and logistics, to post-operative feedback.
| „Tasks that previously required multiple phone calls and manual tracking have now been simplified and are transparent. The system supports interdepartmental collaboration and increases patient trust” said Alexandra, TritonLife case manager. |
The pilot programme confirmed that collaborative working between staff and patients helped to design a system that meets real-world needs. At the same time, challenges also arose: it proved difficult to engage patients in testing the administrative system, and hospital staff had limited time to try out the new software. These obstacles were overcome with targeted incentives for patients, a reorganising of staff workflows, and closer communication with the developers.
The solution is now being introduced in every TritonLife hospital, which is an important step towards institutionalisation. In Hungary, the establishment of a national Health Labs4Value platform is also planned in order to continue the development and testing of innovations in cooperation with domestic and foreign partners.
Further information:
TritonLife Private Hospitals Plc.
Lehel u. 59. C ep., H-1135 Budapest, Hungary (HU)
Web https://tritonlife.hu/
Poland
Łódź hospital introduces biometric electronic signature for patients
Łódź, April 2025 – Signing paperwork can be a small yet frustrating hurdle in healthcare. At the Central Teaching Hospital of the Medical University of Łódź (CSK-MUL), as part of the Health Labs4Value project, a pilot programme has tested a biometric e-signature system that simplifies the process for both patients and staff.
The system allows patients to electronically sign documents using mobile or desktop tablets, whilst a smart pen remains available for those who prefer the traditional format. All signatures are legally binding and integrated into the hospital's IT system.
| „I didn't have to wait for a desk or a pen. Everything was right there on the tablet – simple and clear” – said a participating patient. |
The staff also welcomed the innovation. „Even older patients were able to use the system with a little guidance. This is a major step forward in modernising our workflows” said a nurse taking part in the pilot scheme.
The pilot programme confirmed that although some patients struggle with digital tools, providing both electronic and analogue options simultaneously guarantees inclusivity. Overall, waiting times have decreased, and medical staff have reported less paperwork and fewer delays.
Based on the positive results, CSK-MUL plans to roll out the solution to several hospital wards and affiliated clinics. The pilot programme will lay the foundations for the establishment of regional Health Living Labs in Poland, supporting the further digital transformation of healthcare.
Further information:
Medical University of Lodz
Tadeusza Kościuszki Avenue 4, 90-419 Łódź, Poland
Web https://umed.Ground floor