Healthcare is facing a digital change – and we need professionals who actively help shape it. In summer semester 2024 the new Digital Health programme started at IB Hochschule für Gesundheit und Soziales. Directly on the ukb Health Campus, students have the opportunity to prepare in a practice-oriented way for the challenges of digital medicine.
To find out what the verdict is after one year, we spoke with Prof. Dr. med. Philipp Lacour, who gives us exciting insights into the challenges and chances of digitalisation as well as the contents of the new programme.
Mr Lacour, the Digital Health programme has been running successfully at IB Hochschule for a year. How does the first review turn out? – We are delighted at how the programme not only meets but exceeds our expectations. The students are fully engaged and explain through examples from their own work environment how important the topic of digital medicine is. The team is already looking forward to the coming semesters and the new focus topics like Artificial Intelligence and software engineering.
Why and for whom was the programme created? – The rapid progress of digitalisation in healthcare is only possible if all employees also take part in it. Without appropriate specialist knowledge and practical digital competence of all actors, participation is impossible! This is where our two new Digital Health programmes come in. These were developed by IB Hochschule für Gesundheit und Soziales in cooperation with Unfallkrankenhaus Berlin (ukb). Since 2024, IB Hochschule has been located on the Health Campus at ukb, so teaching takes place directly on site and our students benefit from the clinic's advanced digitalised infrastructure!
What is the content of the programme? – With the Digital Health Bachelor and Master programmes, we train future professionals to actively shape the digital transformation. The part-time format guarantees direct implementation of content at the workplace and is at the same time family-friendly!
The modules of the programme focus on practical application and project-based implementation of digital technologies. This essentially distinguishes Digital Health at IB Hochschule from other programmes in Germany, which often focus on general management and frequently do not include patients. Already in the first week of study, important topic complexes of digitalisation are discussed in an interdisciplinary way. Different specialties from healthcare meet, exchange knowledge and develop innovative solution approaches in a common language. Students learn not only from the lecturers but also from each other.
Our graduates are able to support their patients diagnostically and therapeutically with modern technologies, e.g. from the field of virtual reality and artificial intelligence. Alongside technical questions, ethical and legal concerns and the question of transhumanism are also topics of the programme.
Who are the two programmes aimed at? – The programmes are aimed at a wide variety of interested parties. With a degree or training in the fields of medicine, medical technology, computer science, insurance, healthcare professions, psychology, pharmacy, sick care, geriatric care or rescue services and a year of professional experience in healthcare, they can be admitted to the programme. We warmly thank Prof. Dr. med. Philipp Lacour for this interview!
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