The benefits of digitalisation for the healthcare sector

Digitalisation is not an end in itself but instead is gaining more and more traction in all areas of life due to the sum of its benefits. This naturally also applies to the benefits for the healthcare sector: In this sector, digital technologies and products such as, e.g. Emperra’s ESYSTA system have the potential to overcome the major challenges of the upcoming years and decades, including demographic change, the consistent increase of chronic diseases and insufficient access to healthcare in economically underdeveloped, rural areas. In addition, digitalisation allows for high-quality and affordable treatment and care for everyone. The following advantages contribute to this favourable outcome.

Current digitalisation measures in numbers

54 % of people around the world are open to using artificial intelligence (AI) in the medical field.

64 % of German managers are convinced that artificial intelligence will change the healthcare sector from the bottom up.

USD 90 bn is the global saving potential that AI could generate just in terms of childhood obesity in the next ten years.

61 % of insured persons think that Germany is well-positioned in the digital technologies landscape.

Reducing the burden on the healthcare system

Digital treatment and care options have not yet really arrived in doctors’ offices and hospitals in Germany. Exchange of and access to information still predominantly take place on paper, and only a handful of patients already benefit from the new digital solutions. The increased use of telematics and telemedicine can undoubtedly improve the current healthcare landscape.

This is already possible with Emperra’s ESYSTA system, which enables secure and accurate remote treatment of diabetes patients. All data are digitally available for the involved parties. As a result, visits to the doctor’s office, which were formerly required to discuss the manually logged treatment data, can be replaced with video- or tele-consultations. A clear benefit – and not just in times of Covid-19.

The faster the diagnosis, the earlier necessary treatment can be administered

Newly developing areas such as big data applications can analyse data sets from various sources and generate valuable insights into public health. They allow experts to recognise positive or negative trends more quickly and thus enable more timely reactions. Artificial intelligence (AI) can also relieve the burden on and even enhance the quality of care in hospitals and doctors’ offices, as adaptive algorithms can sometimes make a correct diagnosis more rapidly than doctors, and therefore frequently facilitate timelier and more promising treatment measures. It goes without saying that AI diagnoses still require human monitoring, but they nonetheless already allow for, e.g., more frequent check-ups and preventative interventions. A further example of the benefits can be found in medical image analysis where AI is already proving itself in screening for skin cancer or eye diseases.

The ESYSTA system uses algorithms that process the treatment data of diabetes patients for doctors and diabetologists and present them in a clear and manageable fashion. As a result, trends as well as critical, or significantly improved values are easier to detect.

Efficient health support – from treatment to prevention

Digital healthcare solutions provide people with a variety of opportunities to improve their health. The field of telemedicine, for example, incorporates among other things: smartphones, mobile apps, portable devices or use of AI and genomics as the new data giants. Many people already own medical devices that automatically measure, e.g., blood pressure or blood sugar levels and collects these data in apps. These apps frequently come with warning systems that aid in the early detection of critical data and thus enable a swift aetiology: this can help to prevent life-threatening situations. Beyond worst-case scenarios, automatised collection of health-related information ensures that patients are not required to actively record their important data but can instead focus on other aspects of life. Thanks to the improved treatment and prevention possibilities, these technologies play a role in lowering overall costs for the healthcare sector.

The ESYSTA app’s algorithms monitor the collected treatment data for irregularities. Consequently, the ESYSTA app’s assistant can alert the diabetes patients to potentially missing data, probable handling errors and even suspicious values. In critical cases, the app urges the patient to consult a doctor.

More time for healthcare providers to perform their jobs

Modern technologies such as AI can significantly relieve the everyday and administrative burden of healthcare staff, providing them with more time to “actually” perform their jobs. Automatic data analysis can lead to better treatment results. Digital devices help patients to adhere to their medication schedules, which results in more time for the personal support of patients who require intensive care. By employing digital technologies, it becomes easier to cope with sudden shortages of medical staff. And in the long run, they even facilitate a more sustainable management of the workforce.

In care facilities, for example, using the ESYSTA system saves time without impacting the quality of care as ESYSTA handles the documentation of treatment data and makes these available to the respective doctors. These procedures would otherwise have to be performed manually with documentation being paper-based and normally transmitted via fax.

Reducing unequal healthcare situations

Telemedicine reaches people in economically underdeveloped, rural areas and guides them to existing healthcare services. In addition, digital solutions can enable patients to access health-related information and support them in harnessing the potential of these networks. In this way, inequalities can be reduced and can lead to a more efficient and equal care situation.

The ESYSTA system already enables secure and accurate remote treatment. With the development of the ESYSTA platform, Emperra is currently working on a digital solution that will provide patients and doctors with access to further products and services offered by third parties. In addition, it will be used as a space to link all stakeholders – irrespective of their individual locations.

Responsible handling of medical data

Many people consider paper the “secure” medium for data while digital media are often met with distrust. And that is how it should be. Only the consistently responsible handling of digital medical data can reliably dispel this distrust. Or in other words, measures to ensure high levels of data security. There are strict regulations for storage and use of digital medical data; observance of these regulations is verified with the help of closely monitored certification processes. It is particularly important that providers have transparent communication policies so that users can easily identify dubious offers or providers who fall into grey areas. And it is also vital that doctors who offer digital services present a clear and security-oriented communication strategy. Especially because doctors can face legal consequences if they use data in their treatment that originates from apps that are not approved medical devices. To ensure secure and digital medical care, all stakeholders must be absolutely clear that e.g. not all step counter apps are created equal.

The entire ESYSTA system is certified in accordance with the international norm ISO/IEC 27001. Due to its stringent requirements and close inspection protocols, it is also referred to as the “gold standard in IT security”. In addition, all ESYSTA products – including the app – are certified medical devices pursuant to ISO 13485. And finally, TÜV Rheinland and an independent, external data protection officer regularly review the data and information security situation.

Invest in a digitalised healthcare system today

Are you also interested in financially harnessing the potential of a digitalised healthcare system? Then invest in Emperra today on the digital venture capital platform Aescuvest.