In Slovenia, the Health Labs4Value project has tested a new digital tool to make patient rehabilitation simpler and more effective. The pilot focused on helping people recover after injuries and surgeries in a hospital that treats nearly 100 injury cases each day, where staff shortages present daily challenges.Traditionally, patients were sent home with printed handouts describing rehabilitation exercises. These were often hard to follow, and many details were quickly forgotten. To solve this, the hospital team piloted the Healthlord application, which provides exercise demonstrations in video form. Patients can now access clear instructions by scanning a simple QR code, without going through a registration process.
“After my hand surgery, I struggled to remember everything the doctor showed me. With the app, I could watch the exercise videos whenever I needed. It reassured me that I was doing them correctly,” said a 70-year-old patient.
Doctors have also noticed a difference. “Patients told us they practice their recovery exercises more often because they can rely on the app. This is a positive step in encouraging active participation in their rehabilitation,” said Dr. Anja Jovanović Kunstelj, surgeon at the pilot hospital.
The pilot confirmed that easy, registration-free access is crucial in the first days after injury. More advanced features, such as personalized rehabilitation plans or remote consultations, can be added later for patients who want extra support.
Looking ahead, Slovenia plans to keep the app available to patients from other hospitals and expand its content to cover additional medical conditions. The project team is exploring partnerships and funding options to ensure long-term use and development.
For more information:
MedTech – Chamber of Medical Technology and Services
Dimičeva ulica 13, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia (SI)
Web: www.gzs.si; https://medtechslovenija.gzs.si/