In healthcare, testbeds are considered tools that can be used for developing innovative products and services that use healthcare resources more efficiently. Digitalization will inevitably change the way healthcare is provided, which requires cooperation between different actors.

As new and more complex technologies are introduced in society, the use of testbeds becomes more frequent in the private and public sectors. In primary care, however, there is only limited experience from using testbeds that utilize the knowledge of healthcare professionals and patients through collaboration with academia and industry partners.

The project has recently started, but Närhälsan Färgelanda Health Primary Centre has already become a more attractive workplace and attracted more applicants to vacancies. The staff group has also become more stable.

The project is funded by the European Union, Närhälsan Färgelanda Primary Health Care Centre, University West, the Innovation Platform and the Primary Health Care Research and Development Unit in Västra Götaland.
All levels within the Region Västra Götaland support the project. Human resources have been added to the health centre, and the testbed has attract attention in newspapers, radio and social media.
Private actors also show great interest in testing products in the testbed.

The project has recently started, but Närhälsan Färgelanda Health Primary Centre has already become a more attractive workplace and attracted more applicants to vacancies. The staff group has also become more stable.

The testbed has attracted considerable attention and interest among stakeholders connected to primary healthcare from all over Sweden. The testbed is still at an early stage of development, and results are not yet available. Expected results are increased learning regarding how products and services can be developed through collaboration and continuous evaluation. Several stakeholders are expected to benefit from the development of innovative working methods in the testbed, including the society as a whole, primary care, healthcare professionals, patients, future healthcare professionals (i.e., students), as well as the industry.

Political support is required to create a sustainable testbed environment. Resources also have to be added over time so that it becomes more than just “one project”. Digitalization adds complexity regarding, e.g., handling of data, compatibility, and server location; especially when products are to be tested in a real environment. In many cases, there are no guidelines for how these situations should be handled. Relevant stakeholders are, however, interested in solving the problems and work is ongoing, e.g., regarding the development of guidelines for data storage and technical solutions.

For this innovation to be successful, it requires 1) the support from the management at different levels in creating creative and reflective work processes; 2) that infrastructure and guidelines that support innovative work at the health centre are created; 3) policy support in the form of remuneration systems that promote innovations in primary care, and 4) interested and motivated staff members who understand the benefits of developing new products and services, and who are supported by the management.

The goal is to gather as much knowledge as needed for establishing other testbeds with other areas of expertise in Primary Health care centres located in the same municipality, region or elsewhere in the country.

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Successfully creating a testbed takes time, and therefore requires patience, and the attitude that difficulties can always be overcome. A team with members with different skills is needed, as well as a health centre with motivated employees who dare to try new ways of working, and who are supported by the management and political leaders.