Building a Sustainable Distributed Workforce: A Proof of Concept from project partners the Swedish Centre for Rural Health

In a time of rapid organisational growth and expanding international responsibilities, employee well-being has never been more critical. The Swedish Centre for Rural Health (SCRH) is taking a proactive step to address this challenge through an ambitious Proof of Concept (PoC) that explores how technology-supported self-assessment can reduce stress and support a healthy, distributed workforce.

Formerly known as the Centre for Rural Medicine, the Swedish Centre for Rural Health is undergoing a major transformation. On 27 January 2025, the Swedish government officially announced SCRH’s new role as a National Centre of Excellence, marking a significant expansion of its mandate. Alongside this national responsibility, SCRH is also strengthening its collaboration with the World Health Organization, moving from a European focus to a truly global engagement.

This shift represents an important milestone—but it also introduces new pressures. Rapid growth, increased expectations, and international collaboration demand new ways of working that prioritize both effectiveness and employee well-being.

SCRH operates as a distributed organization, with employees located across Sweden and internationally. While this model offers flexibility and access to global expertise, it can also introduce challenges such as:

Recognizing these challenges early, SCRH initiated Proof of Concept 2, a structured initiative aimed at developing a technology-supported self-assessment model tailored to a modern, distributed workforce.

The PoC runs from Q2 2026 to Q2 2027 and focuses on how self-assessment tools can support employees during organizational transformation. The goal is not only to measure well-being, but to actively reduce stress, increase awareness, and promote sustainable working practices across the organisation.

The first four months of the PoC are dedicated to:

Following this initial phase, a 12-month pilot study is planned to evaluate the long-term viability of the solution beyond the PoC period.

Adapting to Real-World Constraints

As with many innovation projects, SCRH had to adapt its original plans. Due to challenges in accessing the staff resources required for the initial case outlined in the application, the Centre adjusted the scope of the PoC. This flexibility reflects a pragmatic approach—ensuring that the initiative remains realistic, relevant, and aligned with current organizational capacity.

By investing in employee well-being during a period of rapid growth, the Swedish Centre for Rural Health is setting an important example for public-sector organizations and knowledge institutions worldwide. Proof of Concept 2 represents more than a technical experiment—it is a strategic effort to ensure that people remain at the centre of organisational development.

As SCRH continues its journey as a National Centre of Excellence with a global reach, the insights gained from this PoC may help shape future models for healthy, sustainable, and distributed work environments.