Health Technology and Services Research

Department Chair
Maarten IJzerman

Health Technology and Services Research (HTSR) is a new department at the School of Management and Governance at the University of Twente (UT). The group undertakes research and teaching in the area of health care and works in close collaboration with several national and international institutes. Operating from a methodological perspective HTSR primarily concentrates its efforts toward the clinical and economic outcomes to be derived from (future) medical technologies and the efficient organisation of health care.

The research that HTSR conducts is embedded in two of the University's institutes: the Institute for Innovation and Governance Studies (IGS) and the Institute for Biomedical Technology and Technical Medicine (MIRA). Additionally, the group works with the Institute for Behavioural Sciences to develop patent-related outcomes for the health care sector.

Technology is at the heart of the HTSR group: how can technology raise the clinical effectiveness and efficiency in health care? This central question is addressed through a combination of research in the area of Health Technology Assessment (HTA) and in Health Services Research (HSR). HTA directs itself to the clinical effects and effectiveness of new (medical) technology. HSR operates from an organisational or policy perspective to investigate quality and funding implications that arise from the use of the technology.

The department HTSR has a strong methodological focus on Health Care Technology Management Methods as well as Health Economics & Policy. The activities are specialized in three clinical areas. These are chosen from the perspective of relevance, health impact, scientific excellence and expertise of staff members. The three clinical application areas are youth health care, oncology and acute and emergency care (including cardiovascular and trauma research).

The department is very much involved in several educational programs teaching Bachelor and Master students at the University Twente. The main Bachelor programs that HTSR contributes to are Health Sciences and Technical Medicine. The department HTSR is coordinator of two separate Master programs, including Health Sciences and Health Care Technology Management. The first program is focussed on the assessment and implementation of health care technology and has two specializations, i.e. Health Technology Assessment and Health Services & Management. The second program is based in Industrial Engineering & Management and is a two-year quantitative program focussed on the management of technology from health care and industrial perspectives. Additionally, the department is involved in the Master program Biomedical Engineering.