A new project called Dynamic Digital Resilience for Medical and Allied Professions in Health Services (DDS-MAP) has just been approved, and EASPD has joined the consortium. The project will focus on technologies and healthcare.

What is DDS-MAP?

The DDS-MAP project is part of the EU4 health program and it brings together 15 European partners in a consortium consisting of HEIs (Medical, Nursing, Education and Digital Technology), NGOs, health authorities, and health insurers.

DDS-MAP aims to develop new training provision for healthcare professionals, focused on the acquisition and mastery of new digital technologies in the delivery of care services. Healthcare professionals’ awareness, knowledge, and self-reflection on their use of digital technologies will be explored in both learning and professional practice.

How will DDS-MAP work?

Firstly, DDS-MAP will implement a survey of the digital competencies across the European Union to assess the training needs and competencies of healthcare professionals. It is the first time such an extensive assessment is undertaken.

The survey results will guide the development of a platform with three generic modules that can be adapted to the needs of the multiple disciplines within the health workforce. The adaptation of the generic modules will be achieved through a co-creation process with the relevant stakeholders to inform specific discipline content. A fourth module will promote personal resilience and well-being.

In addition to the survey, DDS-MAP has two other unique features:

• Employment of micro-credentials to assess and reward skills development in the clinical setting.
• Use of virtual and augmented reality as key teaching and assessment technology.

Practical information

The project is coordinated by South East Technological University, with IBK Management Solutions (Germany), Ostfalia University of Applied Sciences (Germany), University College Dublin (Ireland), University of Maribor (Slovenia), Klaipedos University (Lithuania), University of Osijeck (Croatia), Medical University Lublin (Poland), Association of Knowledge and Technology Industries – GAIA (Spain), Health Authority Teramo – ASL (Italy), University of Udine (Italy), European Association of Service  Providers for People with Disabilities (Belgium), EUROFORTIS Society (Latvia), Mutualia Mutual Social Security Collaboration (Spain), Riga Stadina University (Latvia) as partners.

Funding is provided by the EU4Health scheme.

The role of EASPD

European Association of Service Provider for Persons with Disabilities (EASPD) has joined the consortium to represent 20,000 care professionals in the disability service sector. During COVID-19, the use of digital tools in the care sector, such as video meeting, teleconsultation, and remote assessment and therapies, has increased. Such a rapid shift led to a higher demand for digital skills of care workforce. Being the communication and dissemination leader in DDS-MAP, EASPD will engage its members and wider stakeholders from disability sector across Europe to upskill and reskill their workforce in digital competences.