The research area „Health Care Systems and Patient Orientation” analyses health related medical and care processes in ambulatory and hospital treatment, as well as their results. Its scope includes prevention, diagnostics and therapy of acute illness, as well as rehabilitation and palliative care. The objectives of the research focus are to present a valid description of the reality of medical care, to deduce concepts for improving health care from these findings, to evaluate interventions in the health care system, as well as data protection compliant handling of patient data. In particular, the research focus integrates patients’ view on health care services, as well as their individual needs, and thereby aims to strengthen patient sovereignty.
The creation of the departments Human Medicine and Health Services Research in the School VI - Medicine and Health Sciences ensures the conditions that are necessary to establish a broad approach. In addition, School I - Educational and Social Sciences and School II - Computing Science, Business Administration, Economics, and Law are already leading extensive preliminary studies on information logistics, assistive technologies for the elderly and the integration of users into socio-technical systems, on which can be built on. Numerous studies on stationary and ambulatory care (e.g. pain treatment, multimorbidity, rheumatism, stroke, bowel diseases) and various target groups (children, young people, adults, elderly, long term care patients) are in progress.

Within the next years, Oldenburg University will establish itself as an important national and international research site for health services research, as well as for research on patient orientation. A broad interdisciplinary approach will characterize the research area.
Concrete aims of the research area for the next five years are

• to establish a broad competence in methods within the university,
• to establish close relationships between the faculties and affiliated institutions through common publications and project acquisitions,
• and to implement innovative health care concepts and practice in the North-Western region, as well as in Bremen and Groningen, and thereby ensure the visibility of the research area.