Infrastructures in healthcare play a crucial role in the ongoing transformative processes of digitalization. Emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), social assistive robotics (SAR), and the Internet of Things (IoT) accelerate transformation. At the same time, the growing availability of patient-oriented health applications contributes to the more active involvement of patients in their care and well-being.

The generation of personal health data is a key outcome and, simultaneously, a drive and a crucial building block of healthcare digitalization. More personal health data are collected in digital form than ever before. Through mobile phones, smartwatches, and other connected devices, patients can self-report health data, monitor their chronic conditions, support their rehabilitation, and engage with personal wellness by following training and activity data.

In healthcare, demographic change with the increase in chronic diseases and co-morbidity, the existing and growing shortage of skilled workers in nursing and medicine, and the advancing digitalization in diagnosis and therapy are pressing issues for which we seek solutions. Against the backdrop of economic constraints (e.g., hospital closures, shortage of doctors, especially in rural areas, billing for services) and the advent of more technical support options (e.g., artificial intelligence in diagnosis, telemedicine), there is a high demand for meaningful digital and socio-technical forms of healthcare support. At the same time, already established digital solutions are evolving (e.g., mobile interfaces for hospital information systems) and are linked to new organizational and process requirements for cross-sector and integrated care chains.

The infraHEALTH conference has a longstanding interest in empirical, conceptual, theoretical, and technical contributions and has a tradition of innovation and inclusiveness.