Scientific support and evaluation of the work of the Competence Center for Digitalization and Care in accordance with Section 125b (4) SGB XI

Against the backdrop of the worsening nursing crisis, digitization is linked to hopes of optimizing care, improving the efficiency of nursing, and reducing the workload of professional caregivers. As a result, political efforts to strengthen digitization in nursing have intensified in recent years. The Federal Ministry of Health has developed a digitization strategy.

In this context, among many other measures, a Competence Center for Digitalization and Care was established. The Competence Center is based at the National Association of Long-Term Care Insurance Funds and is intended to support the implementation of digitally supported care and a digital healthcare system. In addition to the mandate given to the competence center, Section 125b of SGB XI stipulates that the quality, costs, and effectiveness of the competence center must be evaluated by independent experts. This task is carried out by the Institute for Social Research and Social Economy (iso) as a complementary approach to process-oriented and results-oriented evaluation. The analytical perspective of the evaluation focuses on the conversion process from input (resources) to output (services, developed “products” and offerings) as well as the effects at the level of the target groups and other changes initiated (outcome).