Future Health Day: The Transition to Cloud, Data, and AI in Healthcare

The Future Health Day event highlighted the critical need for advancing digitalization within the healthcare sector. Experts gathered to discuss the potential of cloud computing, interconnected systems, and artificial intelligence to transform healthcare delivery.

Gottfried Ludewig, head of the health division at T-Systems, emphasized that while technology is not lacking, a shift to cloud-based systems is essential. He noted that many hospitals and medical practices still operate with outdated methods, relying on paper documents and faxes, which is unsustainable given the current demographic changes in society.

During the event, the importance of funding for healthcare digitalization was also discussed, with the Transformationsfonds and special funding mechanisms presenting new opportunities for industry stakeholders.

Ludewig pointed out that the integration of sensor technology allowing for continuous data collection is available and capable of being integrated back into healthcare systems. He referred to successful examples from other countries, such as Denmark's healthcare system and Greece's advanced telemedicine platform.

In Switzerland and Austria, the progress of digitalization in healthcare mirrors that of Germany, with the electronic patient dossier (EPD) still in its early stages, having been adopted by only 100,000 individuals so far. The implementation of the EPD has faced significant challenges over the past 15 years, as highlighted by Martin Fiedler, medical director of the University Hospital in Bern.

The hospital has adopted Epic software, which serves approximately 30,000 patients. This software facilitates access to medical imaging and patient data, streamlining processes such as hospital check-ins. Fiedler praised the decision to implement Epic as a major success for the institution.

Dietmar Schulz, Chief Information Officer at Robert Bosch Hospital, stated that transitioning all processes to the cloud cannot occur overnight. Instead, a gradual approach is necessary, requiring a robust integration platform for secure connections between on-premises and cloud systems. He acknowledged the challenge of making all patient data machine-readable and outlined the hospital's five-year plan to modernize its infrastructure while potentially establishing a 5G campus network.

Simone Schwering, deputy chair of Barmer Krankenkasse, discussed the role of digital identities in advancing healthcare processes. She stressed the urgency of utilizing existing technologies rather than waiting for new legislation. Barmer Krankenkasse has already issued digital identities to 2.8 million insured individuals, who have responded positively to the digital offerings.

Florian Fuhrmann from Gematik noted that with the upcoming end of the Cardlink procedure, digital identities are expected to gain wider acceptance. He described the vision of integrated, patient-centered data management as a transformative shift that will require time and commitment from all stakeholders involved.

Dr. Irmgard Stippler, chair of AOK Bayern, highlighted the advantages of leveraging Section 25b of the Health Data Utilization Act to compile data for predictive modeling in healthcare. She shared plans to use analytics for preventive measures in nursing and early medical rehabilitation for specific occupational groups.

AOK Bayern is proceeding cautiously as it navigates regulatory requirements concerning artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare. The organization aims to automate administrative processes, allowing for real-time processing of tasks that previously required manual review.

According to Thomas Renner from the Federal Ministry of Health, significant strides are being made in creating a conducive environment for AI integration across healthcare policies. He emphasized that ensuring data availability is crucial for the effective application of AI solutions in healthcare delivery.

As the healthcare sector continues its digital transformation, the conversations at Future Health Day signal a collective commitment to modernizing systems and improving patient care through technology.