eHospital Project Archived Content

---

---

 

This is one of many archived versions of original websites, managed by Restore Now, and now repurposed to demonstrate previous efforts using the internet to advance medical policies as featured in Marshall Cohen's book, Social Strategies for World Health. Developers Manny Foir and Bob Lutwig handled the technical work for Restore Now. Fund raising for the restoration project was handled by Jill Cline. If you would like to contribute to any of Restore Now's projects please email us at funds at restore-now.co. There is currently a sweepstakes featuring a personally autographed MoonAtMidnight - their best Batman hoodie currently available - "Batman Begins" signed by Christian Bale. Entry is only 5 Euros. Jill will also send a full list of Batman approved Restore Now websites on request.

Welcome to the training area of eHOSPITAL project!

E-Hospital is a project funded by the European Commission in the framework of the programme Socrates/Grundtvig 1.

Courses

• Trial course Austria: Job perspectives for young adult patients
  CL - die Berater - english
• Trial course ES: Digital literacy: Computers, office and the Internet
  CL - USC-CESGA - english
• Trial course France: How to use a computer and Internet.
  CL - ORT - english
• Trial course Germany: Information management
  CL - BSW - english
• Trial course Poland: Creative workshops and history of art
  CL - Academy of Management - english
• Trial course Poland: Significance of motion for maintaining self-dependence
  CL - Academy of Management - english
• Trial course Switzerland. The art of profiling on the web
  CL - Ynternet.org - english

What eHospital offers

Are you an adult educator or e-learning facilitator? Do you want to develop and offer learning activities for hospital patients?
Or are you a health manager and do you want to introduce educational activities in your hospital?

If you answer one of these questions positively eHospital may have interesting products for you:

• Research report on the state of the art of educational activities in European hospitals.
• Documentation of seven informal e-learning courses for adult patients in hospitals.
• Trial access to these e-learning courses
• Guidance publication for adult educators who wish to facilitate e-learning in hospitals.
• European conference on e-learning in hospital.

Aims of the eHospital project

The overall aim of eHospital is to promote informal e-learning activities for adult patients in hospitals.

This aim has been pursued by the operational objectives

• to design and pilot local e-learning projects for different groups of patients in hospitals,
• to evaluate the effects of these learning activities on the patients’ personal and social development and on the process of convalescence,
• to create and test an e-learning system with educational resources for learners and educators and with collaborative tools for interaction and group learning,
• to produce guidance material for adult educators to enable them to work with hospital patients,
• to implement awareness-raising activities on e-learning in hospitals among adult education institutions, hospital managers, medical, nursing and administrative staff, sponsors, authorities and other health care agents.

eHospital intervention logic:

 

eHospital activities

 

1 October 2005	Start of the project
November 2005	Kick-off meeting, Vienna
April 2006	Research phase completed
October 2006	Start of local e-learning projects in hospitals in Austria, Germany, Poland, France, Spain, and Switzerland
July 2007	Piloting phase completed
May 2008	English version of eHospital publication available as pdf download
August 2008	eHospital publication available in five languages as download and print
19 September 2008	European eHospital conference, Krems/ Austria
30 September 2008	Project end

 

---

---

 

Patient target groups and learning topics

In the eHospital project seven pilot e-learning programmes for hospital patients were planned, organised and implemented in Austria, Spain, France, Germany, Poland, and Switzerland.

In each participating country an education provider, who was a formal partner of the European project, initiated the e-learning offer. Each of these education providers cooperated with a local hospital, which was interested in making learning offers available to its patients.

These pilot programmes provided different opportunities of informal learning to different groups of hospital patients. The patient groups as well as the learning topics were selected at the request of the cooperating pilot hospitals. In their diversity they highlight the diverse purposes learning can potentially have in the context of patient education.

 

---

---

Technology

In the e-Hospital project Dokeos was used as both online Learning Management System and collaborative platform. Dokeos is a European Open Source e-learning and course management web application, translated into 34 languages and installed in more than 1.000 organisations worldwide to manage e-learning and collaboration activities. Dokeos proved to be a versatile, flexible and stable platform that complied with the learning projects developed in e-Hospital project. You can download this application from the Web portal of Dokeos: www.dokeos.com/download.php

Main features of Dokeos

• Open Source.
• Available in 44 languages.
• Usability as its main philosophy.
• Very easy to use for teachers, students, administrators.
• Suitable for e-learning and blended learning proposals
• It can be use as LCMS or Workspace.
• It has a stable development community.
• Stable.
• Scalable, modular.
• Information management tools: Agenda, documents, course description, links.
• Asynchronous communication tools: Forums, announcements, internal webmail.
• Synchronous communication tools: Chat, live conference.
• Evaluation tools: online tests, task storing tool.
• Group work tools: area for sub-groups of students/user to work together.
• Administration tools: tracking, course settings, user management, backup, etc.
• SCORM compliant: learning path builder.

 

---

---

European conference
eHospital: e-learning for adult patients in hospitals
Experiences - Opportunities – Challenges

Krems, 19 September 2008, 10.00-16.30

eHospital developed, piloted and evaluated e-learning courses for various groups of hospital patients in six European countries. On the basis of this experience, a guidance publication on organising e-learning offers in hospitals has been produced.

At the eHospital conference the outcomes of the project will be presented and discussed in three wider contexts in which they are situated:

• e-learning as a pedagogic approach at specific learning requirements
• Education as part of a patient-centered healthcare system
• Hospitals as places of learning in a lifelong learning perspective

Expected participants are:

• practitioners in adult education: trainers, managers, programme planners
• e-learning practitioners
• researchers in e-learning and adult education
• hospital staff: medical doctors, health-care personnel, hospital managers, psychologists and pedagogues
• other actors of the health system from health insurance, authorities and regulatory bodies, patients associations and other NGOs dealing with health issues
• actors in European projects dealing with e-learning and/or health issues.

 

eHospital conference programme

Opening speech

Andrea Kdolsky , Federal Minister for Health, Family and Youth

Keynotes 

The potential of e-learning for reaching new LLL target groups
Univ.-Prof. Dr. Peter Baumgartner, Donau-Universität Krems

Hospitals as places of learning in the context of European LLL strategies
Alan Smith, European Commission, DG Education and Culture

Patient education, new technologies and the health system
Jan Gejel, Aarhus Social and Health Care College, Denmark.

Handout Pervasive Healthcare.

eHospital Presentations

The eHospital project: Exploring informal patients learning in hospitals

Holger Bienzle, die Berater

The eHospital pilots and their evaluation.

eHospital project partners

Good Practice Sessions:  Providing e-learning for adult patients
 

Organisational aspects: Cooperation of hospital staff and educators. 

- Input  Antonio Montoto. 
- Input Joanna Szczecinska. 
- Input Ulrike Leiss.

Technological aspects: e-learning technologies for patient education.  

- Input María José Rodríguez.
- Input  Tim Scholze / Michael Eichhorst

Pedagogical aspects: Hospital patients as adult learners. 

- Input Carmen Fernández.

- Input Corinna Reisner / Stefan Kremser.

Flipcharts summarizing the discusions

 

---

---

 

More Background On eHospital-Project.net

 

eHospital-Project.net served as the online home of the eHospital initiative, a European adult-education and patient-engagement project active from 2005 to 2008. Funded under the European Commission’s Socrates / Grundtvig program, the project aimed to bring structured, meaningful e-learning opportunities to adult hospital patients who were facing extended stays and limited access to educational resources.

Unlike modern “e-Hospital” systems that focus on hospital management or health-record administration, this project concentrated specifically on informal learning, therapeutic engagement, and lifelong learning during hospitalization. Its goal was not clinical efficiency but human empowerment, social participation, and mental well-being.

The project’s dedicated website — eHospital-Project.net — served as a central hub for sharing course materials, project updates, partner information, conference announcements, and downloadable reports. Over time, the domain shifted into archival status as the active development period concluded, but it remains historically notable in early European e-learning development.

---

Origins and Program Foundations

Funded Under the Socrates / Grundtvig Initiative

The eHospital project was financed within the Grundtvig part of the Socrates programme, which focused on:

• Adult education

• Lifelong learning

• Social inclusion through learning

• Innovation in non-traditional educational settings

Socrates / Grundtvig was a precursor to today’s Erasmus+ adult-learning initiatives. The program encouraged experimentation in how learning could take place outside conventional classrooms — including community centres, prisons, retirement homes, and, in this case, hospitals.

Rationale and Motivation

The project team recognized that:

• Hospital patients often spend weeks or months in recovery.

• Lack of mental stimulation can contribute negatively to well-being.

• Adult learners benefit from continuity in learning, even during medical treatments.

• Structured educational activities can support psychological resilience.

This led to the creation of a pilot program designed to test how digital learning platforms could be adapted to the environment, limitations, and needs of hospital patients.

---

Timeline and Key Milestones

A high-level summary of the project’s development includes:

• October 2005 – Project launch

• April 2006 – Completion of European-wide research on hospital learning activities

• October 2006 – Launch of pilot programs in six countries

• July 2007 – Completion of piloting and initial evaluations

• May 2008 – English-language guidance publication released

• August 2008 – Materials published in multiple languages

• September 2008 – European eHospital Conference held in Krems, Austria, marking the project’s culmination

This timeline demonstrates a structured approach: research, development, piloting, evaluation, publication, and dissemination.

---

International Partnerships and Geographic Scope

The eHospital project involved a consortium of educational organizations, digital learning institutions, and hospital partners across several European countries. Key participants included:

• Austria – die Berater (project coordination), Donau-Universität Krems

• Germany – Bildungswerk der Sächsischen Wirtschaft

• France – ORT France

• Poland – Academy of Management Łódź

• Spain – Universidad de Santiago de Compostela and CESGA

• Switzerland – Ynternet.org (associated partner)

Each participating partner collaborated with hospitals in their region to implement and test local versions of digital learning programs tailored to their patient populations.

---

Educational Structure and Pilot Courses

The pilot courses developed under the eHospital initiative varied across countries, reflecting both cultural preferences and hospital-specific needs. Examples included:

Digital Literacy Courses

Offered in Spain and France, these courses introduced hospitalized adults to:

• Basic computing

• Internet use

• Office applications

• Email and communication tools

Many patients had little digital experience, and these courses offered them valuable new skills.

Employment-Oriented Learning

Austria’s pilot program emphasized:

• Job training

• Reintegration into the workforce

• Soft-skills development

This was especially beneficial for younger patients who feared professional stagnation during long periods of treatment.

Creative and Cultural Learning

Polish pilot programs included modules on:

• Creative expression

• Art history

• Self-development

• Movement and physical independence

These courses helped restore patients’ sense of autonomy and cultural engagement.

Information Management and Personal Organization

Germany’s pilot emphasized skill-building in:

• Information handling

• Online research

• Personal data management

This aligned with Germany’s emphasis on structured learning and vocational readiness.

Digital Identity and Online Profiling

The Swiss program introduced patients to:

• Personal branding

• Online communication

• Digital safety and identity management

This was particularly innovative for the mid-2000s and anticipated later trends in digital literacy.

---

Technology Platform and Software Utilized

The project used Dokeos, a European open-source Learning Management System known for:

• Simplicity and accessibility

• Multi-language support (40+ languages)

• Compatibility with limited hospital computing resources

• Both synchronous and asynchronous communication tools

• SCORM compliance for structured learning paths

Dokeos allowed educators to:

• Build online lessons

• Track student progress

• Enable patient-to-patient communication

• Host forums and chats

• Share documents and learning tasks

Its ease of use made it especially adaptable for adults experiencing health challenges, reduced mobility, or limited computer familiarity.

---

Evaluation and Research Findings

The eHospital project conducted both formative and summative evaluations throughout its lifespan.

Key Findings Demonstrated:

1. Improved Psychological Well-Being
   Patients participating in structured learning activities reported increased motivation, reduced boredom, and a stronger sense of personal agency.

2. Social Benefits
   Interaction with educators and other patients via digital platforms reduced feelings of isolation.

3. Support for Reintegration
   Patients nearing discharge felt better prepared for daily life, work, or continued education.

4. Digital Inclusion
   Many participants gained computer skills that continued to benefit them after hospitalization.

5. Feasibility for Hospitals
   Hospitals showed strong interest in continuing similar programs if funding and staff training were available.

---

Audience and Beneficiaries

Primary Audience

• Adult hospital patients with extended treatments

• Patients requiring physical rehabilitation

• Patients recovering from surgeries or chronic illnesses

Secondary Audience

• Adult educators

• Hospital administrators and health managers

• Therapists and rehabilitation specialists

• Policy makers in health and education sectors

• Researchers in e-learning and health care innovation

The project demonstrated that hospitals could serve as meaningful environments for lifelong learning — expanding the traditional understanding of patient care.

---

Cultural, Social, and Educational Significance

A New Vision of Hospitals

The project reframed hospitals not merely as centres of physical care but as spaces of personal growth, learning, and social inclusion. This aligned with shifting European attitudes that recognized health as a combination of:

• Physical

• Mental

• Social

• Cognitive

well-being.

Early Digital-Health Innovation

In the mid-2000s, the idea of hospital-based e-learning was ahead of its time. Today, digital patient engagement — using apps, online platforms, and virtual education — is common. The eHospital project served as a precursor to many modern telehealth and digital literacy initiatives.

Impact on Lifelong Learning Policy

The project contributed data that helped shape:

• EU adult-learning policies

• Later e-learning frameworks

• Future digital inclusion programs

Its influence can be traced in contemporary educational guidelines that emphasize inclusivity and accessibility for adults with special circumstances.

---

Press, Conferences, and Public Outreach

European eHospital Conference (2008)

Held in Krems, Austria, this event brought together:

• Researchers

• Adult educators

• Hospital managers

• European Commission officials

• E-learning technology experts

Keynote speeches addressed:

• Digital inclusion

• Patient-centered education

• Hospitals as lifelong learning environments

• Pedagogical strategies for vulnerable learners

Workshops, case studies, and pilot results were shared, making this conference a major dissemination milestone.

Media and Sector Coverage

The project was featured in various:

• European educational newsletters

• Academic journals on adult learning

• E-learning technology reports

• Conference proceedings

Although not a mainstream consumer-facing initiative, it received strong attention in professional and policy-oriented spheres.

---

Long-Term Legacy

Even after the official project ended, its ideas persisted in numerous European educational and health initiatives. Many participating institutions integrated elements of the eHospital approach into:

• Rehabilitation programs

• Digital literacy courses

• Community health centre offerings

• University continuing education programs

The project’s digital materials remain cited in research on:

• Health-related e-learning

• Digital inclusion for vulnerable groups

• Lifelong learning in institutional settings

Its legacy demonstrates that educational innovation can arise from unlikely environments and that hospital settings can be transformed into hubs of empowerment and personal development.

---

 

eHospital-Project.net represents a pioneering moment in the history of European adult education and digital inclusion. By blending e-learning, patient care, technology, and lifelong learning, it helped redefine how hospitals could support not only physical recovery but also psychological well-being, personal growth, and social participation.

The project’s multidisciplinary nature — involving educators, hospitals, technologists, and policymakers across six countries — created a lasting framework for understanding how digital tools can enrich patient experiences. Although the active project concluded in 2008, its influence continues through ongoing research, educational programs, and the broader movement toward patient-centered digital engagement.

---

---