Sponsored: News from EMEA's digital healthcare landscape

ORs are high-risk, high-cost environments where patient safety depends on the clinician’s ability to predict surgical risk. The Caresyntax surgical intelligence platform promises personalised interventions, tailored treatments and improved outcomes.

As it introduces new capabilities for its healthcare network security platform, Palo Alto Networks aims to improve the detection and visibility of rapidly multiplying medical IoT devices, reducing the threat of cyber-attacks in medical settings.

The opportunities for digital transformation that are emerging from the convergence of acute clinical practice and data integration can drive patient care to new heights of excellence. That was the theme that emerged from a Fireside Chat between Philips META clinical applications leader Eyad Melhem and Raed Rafeh, head of solutions and applications delivery for Dubai Academic Healthcare Corporation at the HIMSS Executive Summit in April. The discussion between these two industry leaders focused on clinical transformation and device integration in acute care practice, and the critical nexus between them which, while bringing its own challenges, is also delivering benefits and valuable insights for patients and healthcare professionals. The role played by cutting-edge technologies and solutions in realising those benefits was a key focus of the conversation. Eyad and Raed addressed the prevalent and diverse challenges in acute care settings that can significantly impact patient outcomes and the quality of care. These challenges include the shortage of qualified critical care clinicians, the increased complexity of cases admitted to critical care units, and the need to manage the rising volume of data generated from patients and bedside devices. Challenges bring opportunities Against this backdrop, they described how the evolution of remote monitoring in a post-Covid world and the growing complexities of device integration are having a significant impact on patient care. They also outlined pathways for healthcare professionals to navigate such a dynamic and rapidly changing landscape – including the adoption of emerging AI technologies. Medical device integration is imperative if they are to take full advantage of a new era of AI empowerment and predictive analytics in healthcare, they agreed. ‘Device integration is pivotal for driving future innovations in healthcare, enabling seamless data flow and empowering AI-driven insights to optimize patient care,’ said Raed Rafeh. Better outcomes He said that among the benefits he has seen of device integration and data accessibility, time saving, reduced professional burnout – especially in acute care and ICUs – and improved accuracy of data and data flow have been particularly notable. In another example of integration, Eyad Melhem focused on the primary benefits of tele-ICU technology for healthcare providers and patients, including metrics, KPIs and standardisation – all underpinned by a decreased mortality rate and improved quality of care. He highlighted the transformative impact of this technology: ‘Tele-ICU solutions offer unparalleled benefits for healthcare providers and patients alike, enhancing clinical outcomes and improving quality of care.’ The panelists concluded by underscoring the opportunities that are being created by the rapid adoption of transformative technologies in a digital health climate of optimism and progress. They agreed that the insights these technologies are delivering will provide valuable guidance for healthcare professionals worldwide, helping to propel patient care to new heights of excellence.

Radiology and pathology play interconnected roles, especially in cancer diagnosis. But the current fragmented approach poses challenges. By integrating data through efficient Enterprise Imaging strategies, care providers can improve speed and accuracy in treatment planning. When it comes to cancer diagnosis, traditional practices within radiology and pathology often operate in isolation, despite their crucial interdependence. This fragmented approach poses significant challenges, particularly when comprehensive data integration is essential for accurate diagnosis and treatment planning.  For example, while radiologists globally recognise the importance of imaging/pathologic correlation, its practical implementation remains limited in routine clinical settings. Helping to address this, GE Healthcare’s enterprise approach aims to provide clinical depth and AI at the point of care by making digital pathology images and results an integrated part of the imaging patient record within its VNA solution. Rapid reporting Thanks to collaboration with Tribun Health, GE Healthcare’s VNA solution makes more accurate pathology reports available more quickly, created with the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) provided by Tribun Health’s Solutions. It enables collaboration among pathologists and clinicians by making data available in one consolidated location. The benefits of integration can be illustrated by a typical scenario - a patient who presents with a breast tumour. Genomic analysis might suggest a benign course, while histopathologic and radiologic features might indicate a more aggressive phenotype which makes chemotherapy necessary. This kind of conflict underscores the importance of collaboration between radiologists and pathologists. By integrating data from different specialties in a unique and accessible repository, healthcare providers can identify and address discrepancies early, enabling personalised treatment strategies tailored to each patient's unique profile. With this approach, the entire oncology care pathway, with its complexity involving multiple specialists, tools, decisions, and datasets, can be simplified through data consolidation. Joined-up data From an IT perspective, the integration of pathology into the Enterprise Imaging (EI) solution offers significant advantages over standalone digitisation efforts. By consolidating radiology and pathology data in a unified platform, healthcare providers can streamline IT systems, reduce costs, and centralise integrations. Cost savings are not the only benefit. An integrated multi-ology EI solution enhances clinical value by providing comprehensive patient information in a cohesive manner. The consolidation of IT systems not only cuts costs but also enhances clinical workflows and facilitates collaborative decision-making. With integrated IT solutions, radiologists and pathologists can seamlessly access and analyse patient data, leading to more accurate diagnoses and personalised treatment plans. IT consolidation also enables scalability and interoperability, laying the foundation for future innovations in cancer diagnosis and management. GE Healthcare’s Solutions for EI enable a connected care approach, offering efficient data management and streamlined access. With the addition of digital pathology information to the VNA, the solution provides a comprehensive view of the oncological patient record. Having been a trusted partner for customers worldwide for over a decade, GE Healthcare supports many European customers (including in Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom, Italy, and France) who have recognized the value of integrated Enterprise Imaging strategies, leading to benefits at both clinical and operational levels. To learn more, visit GE Healthcare at HIMSS24 Europe in Rome and request a demo.

Current solutions for remote health monitoring can be seen as invasive by patients and mostly do single variant intermittent tracking. FDA clearance brings one of Europe’s most advanced real-time continuous remote monitoring systems to the US market for the first time. A patient-friendly multi-sensor bracelet which helps to address some of the key challenges around the adoption of remote patient monitoring systems (RPM) has been given clearance by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Corsano Health’s CardioWatch System is an advanced real-time monitoring system, which consists of a bracelet worn by an adult patient (at least 22 years old), a web-based browser, and a mobile app that can operate in either patient or healthcare professional (HCP) mode. The system collects continuous vital signs data and makes it available to patients, clinicians, healthcare providers and developers for screening, diagnosis, treatment and care, and clinical research applications. Vital signs that can be monitored include Pulse Rate, Saturation (SpO2), Respiration Rate, Temperature, Activity, Spiro and Lung Function, Blood Pressure, and Weight. Encrypted data is transmitted from the system to a secure health cloud, where it is stored and made available for further analysis, including for AI and ML applications development. European pedigree FDA clearance is significant for a system which is already CE-MDR medically certified in Europe. It has played a role in more than 100 clinical trials and research projects, mainly Europe-focused, including the development of cardiovascular, oncology and stress therapies. The results of these trials have been published in medical publications such as The Lancet, Nature, and the European Heart Journal. "This achievement is a major milestone for Corsano Health in its mission to provide continuous patient monitoring, anytime, anywhere," said CEO Dr Peter Stas. “We take pride in delivering a proven and reliable digital health system that accelerates clinical trials and generates unparalleled insights to develop life-saving therapies faster.” According to analyst Straits Research, RPM and the increasing prevalence of chronic conditions are the main drivers of a global patient monitoring market which is growing by 7.3% annually, and will be worth $91.04 billion by 2031. The analyst suggests that RPM’s capacity to lower costs and enhance outcomes is “transforming” healthcare provision in the US. Reduced overall healthcare costs, fewer hospital readmissions, improved patient mobility, and insights that can be captured in real-time to provide a more streamlined patient experience are also widely seen as potential benefits of RPM implementation. Meeting the integration challenge However, integration remains an important challenge for developers and digital health leaders as they seek to enable and realise those benefits. The Corsano CardioWatch System includes an API and Software Development Kit (SDK), which allows providers of RPM platforms and researchers to build interfaces between the device and their own systems. The system is also integrated with third-party devices for displaying and monitoring physiological signs including spot monitoring of non-invasive blood pressure (NIBP), lung function and spirometry, weight, and continuous monitoring of axillary temperature. Other challenges for RPM adoption include patient participation in the system and adherence to its use, and the burden of data management and interpretation which new systems can impose on healthcare professionals. As a highly automated, non-intrusive solution, the CardioWatch System can assist with the creation of personalised treatment plans which help patients to feel more motivated to participate in their own care, improving outcomes and providing a better patient experience. The bracelet is intended for use in professional healthcare facilities, such as hospitals or skilled nursing facilities, or at home by trained healthcare professionals. For them, the system enables in-house monitoring – for example, notifying them when physiological data falls outside selected parameters while freeing them from manual monitoring tasks.  Find out more at Corsano Health.