The H-PASS pilot trainings mark a pivotal phase in the life of the project. After months of design and collaborative development, the training pathway has now been implemented across participating countries, bringing the H-PASS model into real healthcare settings.
Through these pilots, health professionals from diverse disciplines have actively engaged with the blended learning approach, testing its structure, content and tools within their daily practice. Beyond participation numbers, this phase has generated valuable insights into feasibility, contextual adaptation and long-term sustainability — offering concrete evidence of how digital competence development can be embedded within different national healthcare systems.
Lithuania – Embedding Digital Competence into National Nursing Education
In Lithuania, the H-PASS pilot training engaged nurses and midwives from healthcare institutions, placing strong emphasis on strengthening digital competencies among frontline health professionals. The initiative supported participants in navigating the evolving digital landscape of healthcare and reflecting on how innovation can be meaningfully integrated into everyday clinical practice.
The pilot demonstrated both professional commitment and institutional openness to structured, competence-based digital training. Participants showed consistent engagement throughout the course, recognising the relevance of digital skills for improving quality of care, organisational efficiency and interprofessional collaboration.
A key achievement concerns sustainability and structural integration. The H-PASS programme has been officially approved and published on the Lithuanian national competency platform, enabling healthcare professionals to enrol in future editions. In addition, selected modules are planned to be incorporated into bachelor’s and master’s study programmes, embedding digital competence development within formal higher education pathways.
Greece – Responding to High Professional Demand Through a Second Pilot Expansion
Following the successful completion of the first Greek H-PASS pilot in September 2025, the University of Crete (UOC) launched a second national pilot in December 2025. This second edition responded to the strong demand expressed by healthcare professionals across the country, confirming the perceived relevance of the H-PASS model within the Greek context.
The second pilot replicates the full blended learning structure, including all four core Modules and the Virtual Reality (VR) component. Multiple time windows were offered for synchronous sessions to facilitate participation alongside clinical responsibilities.
The current interprofessional cohort includes 105 healthcare professionals, with nurses and physiotherapists representing the largest subgroups. An additional 25–30 participants are expected to enrol in early February 2026, further expanding the pilot’s reach.
Sustainability remains a strategic priority. Three English-language interactive lectures from Modules 2 and 4 are being incorporated into the UOC Postgraduate MSc programme “Exercise and Exercise-Based Rehabilitation in Patients with Cardiovascular Diseases.” Engagement with the Hellenic Regulatory Board of Nurses is also underway to support longer-term institutional integration.
Cyprus – Leveraging Continuing Medical Education for Sustainable Digital Upskilling
The H-PASS pilot in Cyprus engaged a broad interprofessional audience, including doctors, nurses, laboratory technicians and other healthcare professionals. The programme generated strong participation and highly positive evaluations, with most participants rating the modules as very useful for their professional practice.
Institutional feedback further underscored the programme’s impact:
“First of all, we would like to warmly thank the organizers and instructors of the program for the excellent organization and high standard of the H-PASS digital skills program. The educational content proved to be exceptionally beneficial, substantially enhancing our staff’s digital skills and contributing to the optimal utilization of digital tools and processes within the laboratory environment. We would hereby like to inform you that the medical staff of the Athens Medical Center clinic laboratory has successfully completed the H-PASS program.”
Recent regulatory developments provide a strong sustainability framework. The Cyprus Medical Association now requires physicians to obtain 20 CME credits annually to renew their license to practise. This requirement is expected to further motivate enrolment and completion. The course is planned to be delivered on a biannual basis and is supported by the Cyprus Medical Association. A new license for UEMS credits is currently being pursued to strengthen formal recognition.
Italy – Scaling Interprofessional Digital Competence Through Structured Blended Training
The Italian H-PASS pilot was delivered through two consecutive training cycles, confirming strong engagement across professional profiles and regions.
The first cycle (30 May – 29 September 2025) involved 108 healthcare professionals: 28 nurses, 15 physicians, 1 pharmacist and 64 professionals from other healthcare professions.
The second cycle (4 September – 21 December 2025) engaged 157 participants: 23 physicians, 55 nurses, 2 pharmacists, 73 professionals from other healthcare professions and 4 social workers.
The interprofessional composition of the cohorts reflects the inclusive nature of the H-PASS model and its applicability across healthcare roles.
Participants highlighted the comprehensive structure of the pathway, integrating technical-professional and managerial perspectives through innovative digital tools. The balanced combination of digital competences and human skills emerged as a distinctive strength.
As noted by Dr. Ilaria Pazzagli:
“The H-PASS course was an extremely valuable collective experience… The aspect I found most fascinating was the perfect balance between new digital competences and ‘human’ skills… ultimately benefiting service delivery and the holistic care of patients.”
The Italian experience confirms the added value of structured, blended and interprofessional training in strengthening digital awareness, managerial capacity and collaborative practice.
Hungary – Addressing Infrastructure Gaps and Generational Differences in Digital Transformation
The Hungarian H-PASS pilot provided practice-based insights into digital transformation, particularly within smaller and rural healthcare settings.
The implementation highlighted both strong interest in digital upskilling and structural challenges. Hybrid infrastructures — combining digital systems with extensive paper-based administration — often generated resistance, especially where new initiatives were perceived as additional workload.
Generational differences in digital adoption further emphasised the need for tailored educational approaches capable of supporting professionals with varying levels of digital confidence.
As reflected by Dr. Sárga Norbert Zétény:
“The H-PASS training provided a comprehensive information package with an impressively broad scope… The course offered a clear and practical overview of digital communication in healthcare, making it highly applicable to real-world situations.”
The Hungarian experience demonstrates that digital transformation requires not only technological tools but also institutional support, infrastructural investment and context-sensitive implementation.
Romania – Engaging Pharmacists in Digital and Communication Transformation
In Romania, the H-PASS pilot was implemented with the University of Oradea (UO) and the Bihor County Pharmacists’ College (CJFBH), focusing primarily on pharmacists and adapting materials to local professional realities.
Initial engagement required targeted effort, as workload constraints and coordination between institutions posed challenges. Once underway, however, engagement increased significantly.
The Communication Module resonated strongly, as participants connected its content to daily teamwork and patient interaction in pharmacy settings.
“This training inspired me to implement all the ideas and to have more confidence in my professional approach…”
Leadership and AI-focused components expanded awareness of digital transformation, while VR sessions added an experiential dimension.
The Romanian experience highlights the adaptability of the H-PASS model across professional environments and confirms its relevance in supporting practical, confidence-building digital upskilling.