Faces of Digital Health

Can video games really save lives? In this episode of Faces of Digital Health, we sit down with Anca Petre to explore the booming intersection of gaming, virtual reality (VR) and healthcare. From Fortnite maps that teach immunity to Roblox worlds that demystify diabetes, we showcase real-world success stories and practical steps for health organizations that want to level-up patient engagement. What you'll learn 2:00 Intro & why gaming matters in 2025 4:05 Success story #1 – Fortnite immunity map 8:40 Success story #2 – Minecraft mental-health build 11:55 How creator economies (Fortnite Creative, Roblox, Minecraft) open doors for health innovators 16:10 Budgeting & ROI: making the business case 20:30 4-step framework for your first health-game project 26:45 Overcoming stigma & regulatory hurdles 31:00 Future outlook: VR, digital therapeutics & beyond Key takeaways Gaming isn't just entertainment—it's a powerful storytelling engine for complex medical topics. Creator platforms already host millions of engaged users: meet them where they play. Partner with influencers and studios to translate clinical insights into immersive worlds. www.facesofdigitalhealth.com Newsletter: https://fodh.substack.com/ Youtube: https://youtu.be/sENyLJmk9wc?si=nCDKGtPqdwtqtv6Q

Jack Kreindler is physician, explorer, and CEO of WellFounded, who studies human performance, resilience, survivorship, and longevity. He emphasizes the distinction between longevity, which caters to the fear of death, and health span, which focuses on expanding vitality and ensuring good quality of life in the finite years we have. The discussion dives into human performance medicine and its application beyond elite athletes to everyday individuals and patients in critical conditions. Kreindler talks about integrating human performance science with traditional medicine, improving health outcomes, and assessing current medical practices such as prehabilitation in oncology. He also touches on the impact of COVID-19 on public health perception, the rise in self-directed healthcare, and the importance of mental health and human connection for overall well-being. Show notes: 01:03 Human Performance Medicine: Beyond Athletes 02:31 Integrating Human Performance with Traditional Medicine 06:00 Prehabilitation and Cancer Treatment 11:59 Metabolic Flexibility and Health Optimization 19:41 Founder's Health Program: A New Approach 23:02 Impact of COVID-19 on Health Perception 28:59 Introduction to the Program 29:33 Performance Medicine and Testing 31:37 Mindset Shift During COVID 32:54 Longevity and Healthspan Aspirations 36:34 Challenges and Motivations for Fitness 44:56 Impact of Technology on Health 51:30 Human Connection and Health 55:43 Conclusion and Podcast Information Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOc5reFMk8k&t=7s www.facesofdigitalhealth.com Newsletter: https://fodh.substack.com/

Philippe Habets is a Dutch physician-scientist and entrepreneur specializing in computational psychiatry and artificial intelligence (AI) applications in healthcare. He is co-founder of Evidence Hunt, a health-tech company aimed at revolutionizing medical literature discovery using AI. The AI-powered platform that streamlines the process of finding, analyzing, and utilizing medical evidence, enabling users to access summarized, evidence-based answers with cited sources in seconds. This discussion covers: Why measuring resilience with data is so elusive How Evidence Hunt reduces search fatigue for clinicians and researchers The philosophical challenge of translating emotions into data What makes a good prompt when searching for medical knowledge Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8tC0B4NvpM www.facesofdigitalhealth.com Newsletter: https://fodh.substack.com/

Starting Summer 2025, researchers and innovators across Europe will be able to apply for access to one of the largest pseudonymized health datasets in the EU—via Germany's Health Data Lab at BfArM. In this discussion, Head of Health Data Lab (BfArM) Dr. Steffen Heß, scientist with has extensive experience in combining scientific expertise with data analysis in the healthcare sector, talks about conditions to access and analyse data from the Health Data Hub, differences between digital twins, synthetic data and real world data and more.

Fidelia Cascini is Digital Healh expert engaged by the Italian Ministry of Health on European and national initiative. She recently wrote a book on secondary use of data in healthcare, read it here: Secondary Use of Electronic Health Data Public Health Perspectives, Use Cases and Challenges https://link.springer.com/book/10.100... This conversation covers the categorization of electronic health data, the importance of distinguishing different data types, and the potential applications and challenges in digital health. We also explore healthcare systems' digitalization, patient data privacy, the European Health Data Space (EHDS), and future public health perspectives. Learn about patient-generated data, clinical trials, and the significant role of digital health advancements in shaping the future of healthcare. www.facesofdigitalhealth.com Newsletter: https://fodh.substack.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbSCXUhIDZ8 Show notes: 01:08 Diving into Different Categories of Health Data 01:35 Discussion on Secondary Use of Data in Europe 02:16 Call for Listener Feedback 03:07 Starting the Interview with Felia Kini 03:36 Importance of Distinguishing Data Types 04:38 Challenges in Using Different Data Sources 06:38 Real-World vs. Clinical Trial Data 07:19 Patient Preferences and Medication Adherence 09:31 Most Suitable Data for Secondary Purposes 10:32 Patient Generated Health Data 11:53 Discussions Among Health Ministries 13:09 Trustworthiness and Integration of Digital Tools 17:45 Patient Reported Outcomes in EHRs 19:35 European Health Data Space (EHDS) 29:55 Patient Control Over Data 33:47 Barriers to EHDS Success 37:13 Public Health Perspectives and Global Changes 40:14 Conclusion and Future Perspectives 42:20 Closing Remarks and Upcoming Events

Fidelia Cascini is Digital Healh expert engaged by the Italian Ministry of Health on European and national initiative. She recently wrote a book on secondary use of data in healthcare, read it here: Secondary Use of Electronic Health Data Public Health Perspectives, Use Cases and Challenges https://link.springer.com/book/10.100... This conversation covers the categorization of electronic health data, the importance of distinguishing different data types, and the potential applications and challenges in digital health. We also explore healthcare systems' digitalization, patient data privacy, the European Health Data Space (EHDS), and future public health perspectives. Learn about patient-generated data, clinical trials, and the significant role of digital health advancements in shaping the future of healthcare. www.facesofdigitalhealth.com Newsletter: https://fodh.substack.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbSCXUhIDZ8 Show notes: 01:08 Diving into Different Categories of Health Data 01:35 Discussion on Secondary Use of Data in Europe 02:16 Call for Listener Feedback 03:07 Starting the Interview with Felia Kini 03:36 Importance of Distinguishing Data Types 04:38 Challenges in Using Different Data Sources 06:38 Real-World vs. Clinical Trial Data 07:19 Patient Preferences and Medication Adherence 09:31 Most Suitable Data for Secondary Purposes 10:32 Patient Generated Health Data 11:53 Discussions Among Health Ministries 13:09 Trustworthiness and Integration of Digital Tools 17:45 Patient Reported Outcomes in EHRs 19:35 European Health Data Space (EHDS) 29:55 Patient Control Over Data 33:47 Barriers to EHDS Success 37:13 Public Health Perspectives and Global Changes 40:14 Conclusion and Future Perspectives 42:20 Closing Remarks and Upcoming Events

In the evolving landscape of work life balance expectations workforce dynamics is reshaping the future of medicine. Dr Amanda Herbrand, clinical data specialist at the University Hospital Basel and former oncologist, shares her insights on this transformation, highlighting the critical role of technology and shifts in physician careers in healthcare. Dr. Herand shares her transition from oncology to healthcare IT and the challenges and solutions in integrating clinical expertise with IT systems. The host and Amanda explore changing workforce expectations, the role of technology in alleviating clinical burdens, and the importance of digital health literacy. The conversation also covers clinical data modeling, international collaborations, and the future vision of healthcare IT development. 00:00 Introduction to Faces of Digital Health 02:00 Interview with Dr. Amanda Herand 02:27 Transition from Oncology to Clinical Data Specialization 04:36 Challenges and Observations in Healthcare IT 11:35 The Role of Digital Health Literacy 14:39 Clinical Data Modeling at University Hospital Basel 27:41 Future of Healthcare Data and Precision Medicine 32:33 Conclusion and Final Thoughts www.facesofdigitalhealth.com Newsletter: https://fodh.substack.com/ Youtube:

NextMed Health in a healthtech and biotech conference exploring the most forward thinking ideas and topics in healthcare. Taking place in San Diego, a four day programme covered topics such as latest developments in AI, aging, increasing lifespan and longevity, addressing mental health and exercise through VR, and more. In this special episode of Faces of digital health, Gary Monk and Tjasa Zajc reflect on the key findings through additional discussions with: Anthony Chang, MD, MBA, MPH, Founder, AIMed. Chief Intelligence & Innovation Office, Children's Hospital of Orange County  Daniel Kraft, MD,  Founder & Chair, NextMed Health. Bayo Curry-Winchell, MD, Founder, Beyond Clinical Walls. Urgent Care Medical Director, Saint Mary's Health Network Steven Brown, AI developer, Coder, founder, investor, filmmaker Jennifer Garrison, PhD, Professor, Buck Institute. Co-Founder & Director, ProductiveHealth.org Eric Topol, MD,  Founder and Director, Scripps Research Translational Institute What's covered:

The news of the year for UK healthcare in March 2025 was the announcement of the abolishment of NHS England. Many people welcome the move, expecting the healthcare system in the UK to become more efficient. If we look at the history, NHS is under constant restructuring - in the past, for digitalization efforts, two entities were established - NHS X and NHS Digital, and were later merger into NHS England. A few years ago 200+ commissioning groups were restructured into 42 integrated care systems. In this discussion Liam Cahill, Founder of Together Digital, Digital Advisor to Organisations and Healthtech Advisor talks about the impact of the latest restructuring and expected impact. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XB3XXtxvfag&t=19s www.facesofdigitalhealth.com Newsletter: https://fodh.substack.com/

6% of the hospital budget, EPIC and 100 healthcare IT systems. That's the description of the infrastructure in the Cleveland clinic London. CIO Raihaan Mughal likes to emphasize CEOs are concerned about three things: 1️⃣ Increasing revenue 2️⃣ Reducing cost 3️⃣ Mitigating risk When investing, Cleveland clinic is mindful of Return on investment, return on employee. When it comes to AI, CIO Raihaan Mughal says: "Take your time, be skeptical about vendor promises." Cleveland Clinic in the US is running a pilot comparing 5 ambient solutions before they sign a long-term contract. Tune in to the full discussion with Raihaan, recorded at the Digital Health Excellence Forum by Smart Bridges GmbH in Berlin. Youtube: https://lnkd.in/dKzBrAxS www.facesofdigitalhealth.com Newsletter: https://fodh.substack.com/

In early March HIMSS Global (https://www.himssconference.com/), the currently biggest global gathering about healthcare IT took place Las Vegas. A few tens of thousands of people visit HIMSS Global every year, it can take 20 minutes to get from one session to another in another building, therefor preparation and planning are key. This year, the key topic seemed to be how are companies embedding AI in their solutions. Hospital leaders talked about cybersecurity, and political uncertainty impacting the future of digital health development. I asked a few participants at HIMSS Global, who are also speaking at HIMSS Europe in Paris in June 2025, about their reflections on the content at HIMSS.  You will hear from: Guido Gunti, Chief Digital Officer at St. James Hospital, Ireland Mathew Little, Chief Nurse Information Officer (CNIO) & Associate Chief Nurse, Gloucestershire Hospital NHS Trust, UK  Rasu Shrestha, Executive Vice President, Chief Innovation & Commercialization Officer at Advocate Health, USA, Henrique Martins, Associate Professor in Health Management & Leadership, Portugal, Rachel Dunscombe, CEO of openEHR International www.facesofdigitalhealth.com https://fodh.substack.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@facesofdigitalhealth

This short episode will address some of the trends shaping the future of healthcare: agentic AI,  Longevity efforts, Uncertain policy in light of the current US government.  You will hear from Daniel Kraft - founder of NextMed Health - a unique interdisciplinary community dedicated to catalyzing and accelerating the arrival of a new, human-centric, technology-enabled health age.  NextMed Health is a very special event, focused on updates in biotech, policy, convergence of technology and expectations of the future. Daniel shared his views on: the expectation that the current US government will not regulate AI and how will this impact healthtech,  what will be covered around longevity and health span at NextMed ,  Innovations in the brain-mind-body connection and more. Expect updates on the conference at: Newsletter: https://fodh.substack.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@facesofdigitalhealth Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tjasazajc/ www.facesofdigitalhealth.com

When it comes to cancer, prevalence is increasing and there is still a lot we don't understand about the factors and causes of cancers. Many studies have clearly demonstrated the benefits of biomarker testing for cancer therapy. However, broadly speaking, roughly 30% of cancer patients are eligible for targeted therapies based on their tumor profile. And even when the biomarket is present, roughly 30% of the eligible patients respond to these treatments. We have a lot more to uncover. In the discussion you are about to hear, I spoke with Luka Ausec - an expert in the field of biology and computational science. He works as the Chief discovery officer at Genialis, RNA biomarker company which develops and validates clinically actionable biomarkers informed by the world's most ethnographically diverse cancer data sets to better predict patient responses and guide treatment decisions for targeted inhibitors, immunotherapies, and other emerging therapeutic classes. Luka oversees internal R&D and external partner projects, with the common goal of advancing therapeutic discovery through the rigorous application of data science. Luka's expertise in biology and computational disciplines makes him uniquely adept at innovating solutions at this nexus. He believes a successful discovery process is built on clear lines of communication and unwavering scientific integrity. In addition, Luka directs the implementation of Genialis' products. We discussed the current state of cancer research, role of computational science in drug discovery, clinical decision support development and response predictions development in the field of cancer. Read more on cancer research and digital health in our newsletter: https://substack.com/home/post/p-78204410 Website: www.facesofdigitalhealth.com Newsletter: https://fodh.substack.com/

This episode of Faces of Digital Health explores how digital health solutions can be evaluated for quality and reliability. Tjasa Zajc speaks with Vice President of Digital Medicine Society (DiMe) Doug Mirsky and Boston Children's Hospital SVP and Chief Innovation Officer John Brownstein about the DIME Seal, a certification designed to help hospitals and clinicians identify trustworthy digital health software. John discusses the challenges hospitals face in selecting and implementing digital tools, emphasizing the resource-intensive nature of evaluation. The DIME Seal aims to reduce this burden by setting a baseline quality standard across evidence, usability, privacy, security, and equity. The conversation also touches on the challenges facing digital health startups, including funding shifts, AI competition, and sustainability concerns. Doug highlights the early success of the Seal and the role it plays in helping both adopters and developers navigate the digital health landscape. The discussion closes with reflections on how digital health innovation will evolve, the role of regulatory bodies, and advice for startups in 2025's competitive market. Newsletter: https://fodh.substack.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLkyU4LulVk&t=3s Website: www.facesofdigitalhealth.com #DigitalHealth #HealthcareInnovation #HealthTech #DIMESeal #MedicalSoftware #AIinHealthcare #DigitalTherapeutics #Telemedicine #HealthIT #MedicalApps

OneLondon—an ambitious project working to provide a single patient care record for 10 million people across London. Since its inception in 2018, OneLondon has evolved, connecting more healthcare providers, expanding patient access, and tackling critical challenges like end-of-life care, sickle cell disease management, and mental health crisis response. In this episode, Luke Readman, Director of Digital Transformation for NHS England and CEO of One London talks about how the project is transforming care coordination, building public trust, and navigating the complexities of integrating 24 different EHR systems. Three Key Points: Evolution of OneLondon's Shared Care Record – The initiative has expanded significantly since its inception, with increased connectivity, new patient groups being included, and a strong focus on trust and public engagement. Targeted Digital Health Solutions – OneLondon is taking a phased approach to integrating patient groups, such as those with sickle cell disease and those receiving end-of-life care, ensuring clinical leadership and patient involvement in decision-making. Challenges and Future Directions – The project is tackling complex issues like mental health crisis response, social care integration, and hospital-at-home models while navigating a fragmented digital ecosystem with 24 different EHR systems across London. https://www.facesofdigitalhealth.com/ Newsletter: https://fodh.substack.com/p/healthcare-digital-transformation

The discussion explores the current landscape of healthcare digitalization in Italy, emphasizing the fragmented regional approach, challenges with interoperability, and the recent strides toward a unified electronic health record (EHR). The guest, Marco Foracchia, CIO of Local Health Unit in Emilia Region, IRCCS sheds light on regional disparities, opportunities for improvement, and strategies for vendors seeking to enter the Italian healthcare market. Challenges in Digitalization: Regional Fragmentation: Northern regions like Lombardy are advanced, while southern areas lag behind. Interoperability Issues: Patients face hurdles when seeking care across regions due to inconsistent systems and processes. Resource and Capacity Gaps: Many organizations lack the expertise to implement complex projects despite funding. Vendor Role: Vendors often sell solutions without assessing if organizations are ready for implementation, leading to underutilized technology. Opportunities and Progress: The EU's Resilience and Reconstruction Program (PNRR) has driven funding and deadlines for nationwide EHR implementation. Introduction of a second version of the national EHR aims to achieve interoperability across regions. Measurement initiatives like HIMSS EMRAM models are guiding digital maturity. Cultural Transformation: Digital transformation requires a shift in mindset alongside technological upgrades. Building clinician buy-in involves demonstrating clear value and benefits of digital solutions. Advice for Vendors Entering the Italian Market: Partner with established Italian companies due to centralized procurement processes favoring local players. Focus on long-term partnerships and delivering measurable results, not just installations. fodh.substack.com facesofdigitalhealth.com

David Buller is a Founding Partner at Ascension Life Fund and exited founder of Avantec Healthcare. With his extensive experience of both raising and investing money in digital health he shared insights into:

In this special holiday edition of Faces of Digital Health, healthcare futurist and strategist Zayna Khayat, futurist and founder of NextMed Health Daniel Kraft and digital health expert, CEO of Transform.health Lucien Engelen discuss key trends in digital health and AI. The panel also touches on the role of new players in the health space like supermarkets and tech giants, the importance of prevention in healthcare, and the promising technologies poised to revolutionize the industry.  Topics include: Key Trends in Digital Health in 2024 European Perspective on Digital Health AI's Impact on Healthcare Costs Future of Digital Health and AI Challenges in Healthcare Implementation Exciting Innovations in Digital Health The Role of Technology in Preventive Health Food, Health, and Corporate Responsibility Policy and Legislation in Healthcare See the video on Youtube: https://youtu.be/hwexC4heHGU?si=ut-V9rqx4yvh1V-X www.facesofdigitalhealth.com Newsletter: https://fodh.substack.com/

In this episode James Somauroo, Host of The Healthtech Podcast and CEO of SomX, a PR and content agency specializing in healthcare and biotech. They dive into the challenges healthcare companies face in public relations, the role of content marketing, and actionable advice for founders and organizations at different stages of growth. From crafting a messaging house to building trust with clinicians, James shares his expert insights on navigating the complex world of healthcare marketing. Key Discussion Points: Evolution of PR in Healthcare Strategic Marketing Tips for Startups The importance of a "messaging house" (vision, key messages, proof points). Mapping audiences, their pain points, and the channels they use. When to Outsource Marketing Personal Branding for Leadership: Why personal content from founders and leaders often outperforms company content. The challenges of incentivizing employees to engage in content creation on platforms like LinkedIn. Trends and Predictions for 2025: A shift away from generic "AI" branding to more specific terms like computational pathology. The rise of co-pilots in healthcare for reducing administrative burdens. www.facesofdigitalhealth.com Newsletter: https://fodh.substack.com/

Several organizations are thinking about the right way to regulate AI and the idea of assurance labs which would test and validate AI solutions in the US healthcare is taking shape. This was the topic we discussed with Brian Anderson - CEO of the coalition for Health AI or CHAI: how will assurance labs look like, how much will assessments cost, who will pay for them, and how will AI “nutrition labels” look like.  Summary: Assurance Labs in Healthcare AI The Coalition for Health AI (CHI) is developing a network of quality assurance labs to evaluate AI models in healthcare. These labs aim to provide independent, transparent assessments of AI models' performance across different populations. By the end of 2024, CHI plans to have two certified labs operational, with more to follow in 2025. Model Cards and Evaluation CHAI has introduced "model cards" or "nutrition labels" for AI models, describing their training data, methodology, indications, and limitations. Model cards are created by developers, while assurance labs provide independent evaluation reports. CHAI is working on technical specifications for model cards to ensure consistency and transparency. Goals and Benefits Assurance labs aim to balance innovation with safety in AI development. They can help identify model performance issues across different populations and accelerate improvements. The process is intended to build trust in AI among healthcare providers and patients. Implementation and Challenges CHAI is creating a competitive marketplace of quality assurance labs to keep costs reasonable. Labs must be free from conflicts of interest with AI vendors. Evaluation reports will be published in a public registry for transparency. The cost of evaluations is expected to be in the range of thousands of dollars, not millions. Future Plans CHAI is exploring partnerships with health systems and NGOs to establish quality assurance labs in the EU. The initiative aims to be scalable and adaptable to different geographic regions and populations. www.facesofdigitalhealth.com Newsletter: https://fodh.substack.com/

HIMSS, The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) is an American not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving health care in quality, safety, cost-effectiveness and access through the best use of information technology and management systems. One way of helping hospitals advance their digitalization efforts is with the help of maturity models. These are assessment questionnaires that position hospital on a level from 1 to 7 on a maturity scale. They can help hospitals benchmark their current digital position and plan better which steps to take to advance on their digital transformation journey.  So far, HIMSS designed 6 maturity models: EMRAM - for EMRs, INFRAM - healthcare IT infrastructure, AMAM - for analytics, DIAM - for medical imaging, CCMM - continuity of care model, C-COMM - community care outcomes. In this discussion John Rayner, Senior Director Analytics - EMEA at HIMSS, talks about different maturity models, how hospitals use them, what to be mindful of in digital transformation of healthcare, and more. Key Takeaways: HIMSS models provide a structured pathway for hospitals to achieve digital maturity and improve care. Leadership, clinical engagement, and infrastructure are critical for successful digital transformation. Interoperability is the cornerstone of modern healthcare, requiring system-wide alignment. Key benefits for hospitals: Understanding the current level of digital maturity and identifying gaps. Setting a roadmap for improvement aligned with global standards. Enhancing decision-making for procurement and strategy. Demonstrating progress to stakeholders, ensuring investments lead to measurable outcomes. Validating digital maturity levels, which can serve as a benchmark or "badge" of excellence. Video: https://youtu.be/iHMC339XHIo www.facesofdigitalhealth.com Newsletter: https://fodh.substack.com/

Clinitouch, originating in the UK NHS, is expanding globally with a focus on chronic conditions and adapting to regional nuances in healthcare delivery. In this discussion several speakers discuss telemedicine in the context of Nigeria and South Africa. Speakers are: Bruce Adams, Commercial Director at Clinitouch (UK) Japie De Jongh, CEO, Synaxon (South Africa) Dr John Adesioye, CEO, Utopian Consulting (Nigeria) Liam van Rooyen, System Support Manager (Synaxon, South Africa) Key points: African Context and Healthcare from the Transcript Role of Remote Patient Monitoring in Addressing Healthcare Gaps: Dr. John Aade (Nigeria) emphasized that remote patient monitoring (RPM) emerged as a practical solution during the COVID-19 pandemic, addressing the need for care delivery without physical hospital visits. In Nigeria, RPM is particularly relevant for patients in remote or underserved areas, enabling data collection and transmission to healthcare providers without requiring face-to-face interactions. Community health workers often play a crucial role, stepping in where doctors and nurses are unavailable. They collect patient data, assess needs, and escalate cases to medical professionals when necessary, highlighting RPM's potential in resource-limited settings. The Dual Healthcare Systems in South Africa: Jaapie de Jong (South Africa) explained the dichotomy of healthcare in South Africa: the private sector, serving insured patients with robust infrastructure, and the public sector, catering to the uninsured population through community healthcare clinics (CHCs) and basic clinics. He noted that while the private sector is aligned with international standards, the public sector faces capacity challenges. RPM in South Africa focuses on insured patients with chronic conditions, such as hypertension and diabetes, to reduce hospital visits and improve care efficiency. Challenges to Technology Adoption in Africa: Both Dr. John and Jaapie highlighted several barriers to adopting RPM technology: Device Compatibility and Connectivity: Limited access to smartphones and stable internet connectivity is a significant challenge. Many patients rely on basic phones and are hesitant to allocate resources for more advanced devices. Trust Issues: Patients often worry about data privacy and fraud, especially in regions like South Africa, where cell phone fraud is common. Providers must build trust by ensuring data security and clarifying the purpose and safety of the technology. Power and Infrastructure Limitations: In Nigeria, power outages and the high cost of diesel for generators disrupt patients' ability to use RPM devices consistently. Economic Considerations and Funding Models: Bruce Adams noted that RPM adoption heavily depends on who pays for the service. In many African countries, healthcare services involve a mix of out-of-pocket payments and insurer-funded models. In South Africa, as explained by Jaapie, medical aid schemes (insurers) play a critical role in covering high-risk, chronic condition patients. However, integrating RPM into existing reimbursement structures and ensuring that providers are compensated for remote care remain challenging. Localized Implementation of UK-Inspired Technology: Bruce Adams stressed the importance of adapting Clinitouch's UK-developed RPM platform to local African contexts. Instead of directly transplanting the UK model, Clinitouch collaborates with local partners to understand specific healthcare needs and tailor the platform accordingly. Jaapie praised the platform's flexibility and customization, noting its suitability for South African chronic disease management programs. The ability to localize the tool for hypertension, diabetes, and other chronic conditions was cited as a significant advantage in addressing Africa's healthcare challenges. www.facesofdigitalhealth.com https://fodh.substack.com/

Laura Hilty has spent over 18 years working to improve the healthcare ecosystem, over 14 years of that in clinical research. She has held leadership roles spanning corporate strategy, M&A, product strategy, product management, and partnerships across stages from company start-up to scale, through Forte / Advarra and Epic. In this short discussion recorded at the Digital Health and AI Innovation Summit in Boston 2024, she explained a few tips companies can use to improve their product development.  Key points:  Collaboration and Deep Understanding: Startups must dive deep into understanding problems by engaging in extensive collaboration and interviewing diverse stakeholders. Conducting numerous conversations helps reveal recurring themes and deeper insights. Validation with Customers: Before advancing with a solution, startups should validate it with potential customers, ensuring they are willing to buy and clarifying how it fits into their workflows seamlessly. Active Listening and Detachment: Companies need to listen not just to respond but to truly understand customer pain points. This involves detaching from pre-conceived solutions and being open to honest, even critical, feedback. Balancing Customer Focus and Market Trends: While it's crucial to address customer needs, startups must also maintain an external view to identify broader market trends and potential disruptions, avoiding tunnel vision on current customers. Learning from Failure: Product failure often stems from underestimating customer differences or lack of scalability. Proactively engaging with diverse customer types before development can prevent such issues. Challenges in Gathering Feedback: Many startups struggle to gather adequate feedback due to customer reluctance or limited outreach. Live conversations are more effective than surveys, and clarifying that feedback isn't tied to sales can improve engagement. Market Opportunities in Healthcare: There are unmet needs in system integration and leveraging research-naive physicians for clinical trials. Addressing these gaps, especially through innovation and collaboration, could significantly advance the industry. Website: www.facesofdigitalhealth.com Newsletter: https://fodh.substack.com/

This short discussion with Rachel Dunscombe, CEO of openEHR International Foundation, was recorded in Reading at the first openEHR Annual conference. Rachel Dunscombe discussed trends in data standards and the importance of structured data for the future development of AI. Recap of the discussion: Historical Context and Progress in Data Standards: Thirty years ago, the "Good European Healthcare Record" initiative aimed to create a standardized European healthcare record. How does it relate to EHDS and efforts for single patient records on European level. Unlike the past, today's digital landscape and AI advancements underscore the importance of standardized, actionable data for remote care and patient self-management. Collaboration Among Standards Bodies: Recent years have seen increased cooperation among standards organizations like FHIR, OpenEHR, and SNOMED, with a focus on complementing rather than duplicating efforts. Standards bodies are now defining clearer roles and working together toward a unified goal of improving healthcare outcomes. Need for Practical Implementation and Governance: Effective implementation of standards requires practical guides for healthcare systems, developed collaboratively by standards bodies. Open, democratic communities with strong governance are essential to ensure diverse input and practical guidance for using standards effectively. AI and Data Quality: Good data quality is foundational for effective AI in healthcare; without it, AI solutions cannot achieve optimal results. Standards are crucial for creating "trustworthy" AI and have been discussed at forums like the United Nations, emphasizing the need for global alignment on data standards. Future Goals and Global Standards: Continued development of clear, internationally recognized standards will support interoperability and innovation in healthcare, including AI-driven solutions. Guidelines from standards bodies are anticipated to help healthcare systems apply data standards cohesively for population health benefits. Resources and Engagement: The podcast "Faces of Digital Health" and its associated newsletter discuss these topics, offering updates on trends and insights in healthcare digitalization and standards. www.facesofdigitalhealth.com Newsletter: https://fodh.substack.com/

In this discussion, strategist, and applied health futurist Zayna Khayat explores the evolution of healthcare, particularly the shift towards home-based care and patient empowerment. Key themes include: Language in Healthcare: Khayat stresses the need for a language shift to change mindsets in healthcare, highlighting that words shape reality. She proposes retiring overused terms like “innovation,” “patient-centered,” and “telemedicine,” advocating instead for more precise language that reflects modern, patient-empowering approaches. Technology in Care Delivery: Khayat is excited about how AI and virtual reality (VR) are transforming healthcare. She sees AI as instrumental in reducing clinician workload by handling repetitive cognitive tasks, while VR is proving beneficial in medical training and therapies like pain and anxiety management. Shift to Home and Virtual Care: Drawing on her experience in home-based chemotherapy, Khayat discusses the challenges of moving healthcare out of hospitals, from reimbursement to infrastructure limitations. She emphasizes that many patients would prefer home care if given the choice, but practical barriers like resource availability and payment models persist. Diverse Aging Models: Khayat challenges the idea of care homes as a one-size-fits-all solution, advocating for diverse models tailored to individual preferences and cultural values. She highlights that community-based models, like those in Denmark and Japan, provide alternatives to institutional care, supporting aging in place. Value-Based Care and Accountability: Khayat encourages healthcare organizations to focus on results rather than processes. She advocates for outcome-based payment models, where organizations are compensated for results, pushing them to prioritize patient outcomes. This approach, she argues, would foster a value-driven healthcare system. www.facesofdigitalhealth.com Newsletter: https://fodh.substack.com/

Grace Cordovano is an expert healthcare navigating solutionist and award winning, board-certified patient advocate, and Grace Vinton is an account director at Amendola, Patient Advocate, and the host of Like a Girl Media's Podcast "HITea With Grace”. In this discussion, recorded at Digital Health and AI Summit in Boston, they discussed AI use cases for improved patient experience in healthcare, how patients already use AI, and more.  Read the summary of the event in our newsletter: https://fodh.substack.com/p/ai-digital-health-pharma Key points:  AI can significantly reduce the administrative burden on patients, especially those managing chronic conditions, caregiving responsibilities, or complex medical records. Patients are using tools like ChatGPT to prepare for medical appointments by generating lists of questions and organizing medical records. AI can assist with translating complex medical information into more understandable language. Patient advocates emphasized the importance of involving patients in the design and implementation of AI in healthcare, ensuring tools cater to different types of patients (e.g., those with terminal illnesses, multiple comorbidities, etc.). It is critical for healthcare companies to involve diverse patient voices throughout the development of AI tools and offer fair compensation to prevent bias. The healthcare industry needs to improve digital literacy among patients, ensuring they understand how to use AI tools effectively and responsibly. Resources like the Patients Included Charter and organizations like the Light Collective and Savvy Coop were highlighted as valuable for patient education and advocacy. Advice for Patients on Using AI: 1. Start with Questions 2. Refine Prompts 3. Check for Errors 4. Be mindful of security and data privacy https://www.facesofdigitalhealth.com/

In this episode Gary Monk, independent consultant with over 25 years in the pharma and healthcare sectors where he worked in roles from R&D to business IT and strategic marketing, talks about the current state of digital therapeutics, remote patient monitoring, the potential of AI in healthcare, and the challenges with data integration. He also shares his personal insights on the use of wearables and their impact on health anxiety. Key Discussion Points: Digital Therapeutics and Integration Challenges Fragmentation in the Space: Many digital therapeutics are siloed, with individual apps that do not integrate well with each other or broader healthcare systems. Potential for Holistic Solutions: apps and digital therapeutics need to be more connected, for example, integrating with wearables or offering treatments. Uncertain Future: While optimistic in the long term, Gary is cautious about short-term setbacks, noting that companies in this space may struggle without proper evidence and reimbursement models in place. Remote Patient Monitoring and Virtual Care Excitement Around Remote Monitoring: there are benefits of remote monitoring, especially for elderly and chronically ill patients, allowing them to stay home longer and safer. Expanding Beyond Monitoring: Discussion expands on using technology not just for monitoring but also for providing interventions, such as reminders, voice support, and even predictive capabilities like fall prevention. Wearables and Real-World Data The Importance of Continuous Data: long-term, imperfect data may be more valuable than short-term, highly accurate clinical data in certain cases, such as tracking motor function. Personal Experience with Wearables: Despite his enthusiasm for digital health, Gary admits he no longer uses wearables due to anxiety caused by over-monitoring and lack of actionable insights. AI in Healthcare Cautious Optimism: While excited about AI's potential, AI needs to be integrated thoughtfully into healthcare workflows. He points out that many current AI solutions are useful but not yet integrated into clinical practice. Ethical Questions Around AI: The conversation touches on whether AI should be used to predict diseases, especially if no treatment is available. This is particularly relevant in areas like Alzheimer's research. Integration as a Key Barrier The Real Challenge: Both speakers agree that integration is one of the biggest hurdles in digital health today. As various apps and AI tools proliferate, getting them to work within existing systems, like clinical workflows, remains difficult. Example from Clinical Trials Even in areas like remote clinical trials, which are technically feasible, organizations are struggling to keep up due to complex internal processes and outdated systems. www.facesofdigitalhealth.com https://fodh.substack.com/p/ai-digital-health-pharma

If social media and smartphones are the root cause of the new mental health epidemic in younger generations, how successful can digital interventions be in addressing mental health issues? In this discussion, recorded at Digital Health and AI Innovation Summit in Boston in October, Katherine Wolfe-Lyga, Mental health professional and former college administrator, Vice President at BetterMynd, discussed: Digital Mental Health Interventions: Digital health solutions, especially telehealth, have improved access to mental health care, particularly for students in rural areas and those reluctant to seek help in person. The stigma around seeking mental health care is still significant but decreasing. Equity and Access: Colleges have become more inclusive, admitting students from underprivileged backgrounds who often face challenges that current campus support systems are not fully equipped to address. Digital interventions are helping bridge these gaps. Impact of Smartphones and Social Media: The pervasive use of smartphones and social media contributes to social isolation and mental health challenges, with many students relying on these platforms for comfort rather than fostering real interpersonal connections. Schools banning or limiting phone use have seen positive effects on student engagement and communication. Digital Interventions as Both Cause and Cure: While smartphones and social media contribute to mental health issues, digital interventions like teletherapy can offer solutions. The challenge is ensuring that digital tools are used minimally and efficiently to support mental health, without exacerbating the problems of overuse. Brain Development: There is evidence suggesting that the development of the prefrontal cortex in young people is delayed, potentially due to changes in societal behavior and technology use, affecting their decision-making abilities and impulse control. Mental Health Interventions and Technology: Technology can help alleviate loneliness and improve community connections, but it must be used responsibly. Ethical concerns exist around the efficacy of some digital mental health tools, as not all apps claiming to support well-being are truly effective. Positive Trends: Successful interventions include digital platforms that provide access to diverse therapists, helping students connect with professionals who share similar identities or expertise. This encourages more students to seek help and supports the reduction of mental health issues like loneliness. www.facesofdigitalhealth.com Newsletter: https://fodh.substack.com/

In this episode of Faces of Digital Health, Michael, an experienced innovator with over 80 patents and a professor in multiple countries, joins to discuss the future of digital health. The conversation dives deep into the concepts of innovation, patent strategies, and the challenges in digital health funding. Michael shares his insights on current investment trends, the future of healthcare, and the potential of technologies like AI and digital tools to redefine medicine. Website: https://www.facesofdigitalhealth.com/ Newsletter: https://fodh.substack.com/ Key Points: The Role of Patents in Innovation: Michael holds 80 patents, but only a few have translated into successful innovations. Patents serve as a starting point for innovation, not necessarily as a direct path to commercialization. Challenges in Patent Development: The difficulty in checking if something has already been patented due to the 18-month confidentiality period. Patenting as a strategy to establish a foundation for future projects and startups. Current State of Digital Health Funding: 2024 has seen significant investment, especially in the U.S. market, but COVID-19 still skews comparisons. Michael believes digital health should go beyond improving administrative workflows and focus on new forms of medicine, such as combining AI, sensors, and IoT. Investment Challenges and New Approaches: There is no current business model for preventive healthcare, but it's essential for long-term health impact. Michael advocates for shifting from analog to digital processes and creating personalized, predictive healthcare. 5P Future of Health Investment Fund: Michael has started an investment fund called "5P Future of Health," focusing on long-term impact rather than immediate profits. Emphasis on personalized, participative healthcare, and developing tools that address health issues before they become critical. Vision for the Future of Healthcare: Transition healthcare from hospitals to home-based systems, using affordable and accessible diagnostic tools. The need for democratizing healthcare and creating business models that are inclusive, not just profit-driven.

Better is a healthcare IT provider of a healthcare data platform, low-code tools that help healthcare organisations to rapidly build applications that suit their specific need and hospital medication management software, working across 20 markets. In this episode, based on 30+ years of experience, Tomaz Gornik, CEO of Better explained: - what is a data platform in healthcare, - what motivates vendors to NOT lock customers in their systems - EHDS implementation from the healthcare IT perspective, - the power of legislation and tender processes in shaping the future of digital health, - how do digital health vendors get the first customer in healthcare, - How do companies survive the long sales cycles - 3 or more years in public systems, and how is this impacting their business models, - the role of design in health, - and more. Newsletter: https://fodh.substack.com/ https://www.facesofdigitalhealth.com/

There are over 200 hospital trusts in the UK, encompassing more than 1,200 hospitals. With those numbers and a population of 67 million, the United Kingdom represents quite a large market. However, selling to the NHS is anything but easy. Mindy Simon is Co-Director at the NHS Innovation Accelerator. She is responsible for the program's execution and provides guidance to innovators and startups that already have customers. In this episode, Mindy talked about the importance of gaining visibility within the NHS, which she says is the biggest struggle for startups. We also discussed tender processes that contribute to innovation procurement and the challenges related to the requirements in tenders. For example, startups need to be mindful of their carbon emissions—how much space software uses in the cloud or how equipment is disposed of, if you're a provider of hardware. Apply for the accelerator by 14 October 2024: https://nhsaccelerator.com/apply/apply-nia-2025-intake/ Newsletter: https://fodh.substack.com/ Website: https://www.facesofdigitalhealth.com/

Daniel Kraft is a Stanford and Harvard trained physician-scientist, inventor and entrepreneur focused on accelerating much improved future of health and biomedicine at the convergence of accelerating technologies and human innovation. He is the founder of NextMed Health & Digital.Health, Chairs the XPRIZE Health Alliance, and is a sought after speaker on the future of medicine, with 6 TED & TEDMED Talks.   Join NextMed Health in December 2024 in San Diego: https://www.nextmed.health/ In this discussion, Daniel talks about:  - Basic Health Practices: The importance of sleep, diverse food, exercise, and social connections as foundational health practices, alongside high-tech tools. - Longevity vs. Healthspan: The discussion shifts from living longer (longevity) to improving the quality of life in later years (healthspan), through proactive health measures. - Behavior Change is Key: Digital health innovations, while advanced, still face challenges in encouraging sustained behavior change, which is crucial for better health outcomes. - Generative Health and Personalization: The concept of "Generative Health" is introduced, where AI-based health coaches personalize advice based on individual preferences, genetics, and lifestyle. - AI in Healthcare: AI's most immediate impact will likely be in administrative areas, reducing burnout by automating tasks and helping clinicians focus on more critical decisions. - Hospital-to-Home Care: The shift from hospital care to home care (or "homespital") is a major trend, driven by advances in remote monitoring, telehealth, and AI-based triage systems. - Barriers to Digital Health: Regulatory, cultural, and business model barriers continue to impede the full integration of digital health solutions, despite technological advancements. - Future of Healthcare Delivery: As healthcare moves towards more home-based care, the infrastructure and training for clinicians must evolve to support this shift effectively. - AI and Ethical Considerations: There is a need to balance the use of AI in healthcare with maintaining human cognitive abilities, ensuring clinicians remain skilled in diagnosis without over-reliance on technology​ facesofdigitalhealth.com Newsletter: https://fodh.substack.com/

This episode features Dr. Chelsea Sumner discussing NVIDIA's significant role in healthcare, particularly in its work with AI startups. Key areas of focus include NVIDIA's contributions to medical imaging, genomics, and drug discovery, and its innovative tools like Clara and NIMs. The conversation highlights how NVIDIA collaborates with startups, its global footprint, and insights into AI's transformative potential in healthcare. Key Points: NVIDIA's Role in Healthcare: GPUs in Healthcare: NVIDIA's graphics processing units (GPUs) power AI and are pivotal in medical imaging, genomics, and drug discovery. Clara Platform: A suite of healthcare-focused AI tools supporting genomics (Parabricks), medical imaging (Moni), robotics (Isaac), and drug discovery (BioNemo). Collaboration with Startups: Inception Program: NVIDIA supports over 3,000 healthcare startups globally, offering them tools, resources, and access to venture capital (VCA). Diverse Startup Sizes: Startups range from small two-person teams to large-scale companies with 800+ employees. Examples of Partnerships: Mendel AI: Improved deployment efficiency by 75% using NVIDIA's Inference Microservices (NIMs). Hippocratic AI: Developing empathetic AI avatars for patient interactions. Abridge: AI-powered clinical conversations that can generate clinical notes, saving clinicians time. What Are NIMs? NIMs (NVIDIA Inference Microservices): These microservices streamline AI model deployment, enabling faster and easier integration of AI models into applications. Key Healthcare Innovations: Genome Sequencing: NVIDIA set a world record for genome sequencing in under 6 hours, highlighting advancements in personalized medicine. GI Genius with Medtronic: AI-assisted colonoscopy tool leveraging NVIDIA's technology to detect polyps, aiding in colorectal cancer prevention. J&J MedTech Collaboration: Connecting digital ecosystems for surgery to provide real-time insights to medical professionals. Global Healthcare Impact: NVIDIA operates in healthcare ecosystems worldwide, collaborating with startups and partners in North and Latin America, Europe, China, and APAC regions. Their technologies are integrated with global academic medical centers, research institutions, and conferences like RSNA and Health U.S. Future of AI in Healthcare: Digital Biology, Surgery, and Health: Key areas where generative AI will impact healthcare, from diagnostics to personalized treatment. Model Transparency (Model Cards): NVIDIA's trustworthy AI initiatives include model cards, which offer transparency into AI models' development and data, aiding in mitigating bias. www.facesofdigitalhealth.com Newsletter: https://fodh.substack.com/

This episode gives an in-depth insight into healthcare digitalization in Portugal. Cátia Sousa Pinto, Head of Global Digital Health and International Affairs at SPMS - shared services of ministry of health of Portugal talked about healthcare digitalization in Portugal, European Health Data Space (EHDS), patient data and more. Key Points Summary Portugal's Digital Health System Design: To accelerate digital health development, Portugal created a national eHealth agency (SPMS) over a decade ago. SPMS Role: SPMS plays a dual role, not only regulating but also developing and maintaining ICT solutions for Portugal's healthcare system. This centralization helps prevent fragmentation and ensures interoperability. European Health Data Space (EHDS): EHDS is the EU's regulatory framework for cross-border health data sharing, building on initiatives like MyHealth@EU. The goal is to allow seamless healthcare across Europe, where any EU citizen can access healthcare in other countries as if they were at home. My Health at EU: A foundational initiative that enables cross-border exchange of health data like patient summaries and e-prescriptions between EU countries. Patient Data: Catia emphasized the importance of patients controlling their health data and being able to share it across healthcare providers. This includes e-prescriptions, laboratory results, and, eventually, medical images. Portugal's National Electronic Health Record: A key project for the country is the creation of a unified electronic health record system, allowing citizens to access all of their health data, both public and private, from a single source. Use of EU Funding: Portugal has allocated €300 million from the EU's recovery funds for digital health transformation, focusing on infrastructure, citizen-centric services, and reducing the burden on healthcare professionals. Challenges and Future Outlook: The integration of digital health into national governance and improving interoperability between systems remain ongoing challenges. Katia stressed the importance of moving towards real-time, structured health data to improve future healthcare outcomes. www.facesofdigitalhealth.com Newsletter: https://fodh.substack.com/ Show notes: [00:02:00] - Overview of Digital Health in Portugal [00:06:00] - National-Level Initiatives and Successes [00:10:00] - European Health Data Space (EHDS) and My Health at EU [00:16:00] - Cross-Border Care and Digital Infrastructure [00:20:00] - The Role of SPMS in Portugal's Digital Health Journey [00:30:00] - Challenges and Workforce Management in Digital Health [00:34:00] - Benefits of Centralization in Small Countries [00:38:00] - Electronic Health Records and Expanding Digital Services, Secondary use of data [00:42:00] - Portugal's National Electronic Health Record [00:46:00] - Future Vision for Health Data Integration

In this episode Anne Forsyth, Director of Clinical Applications and Support at Women's College Hospital in Canada, discusses the challenges and opportunities in optimizing healthcare IT systems, particularly in data management and digital literacy. She shares her experiences transitioning from a policy role to a hospital setting and emphasizes the importance of data governance, workflow design, and continuous improvement in digital health projects. Key Takeaways: Community and Collaboration: Canada's digital health community is a significant asset in advancing healthcare IT. AI and Data Standards: The adoption of AI in healthcare is promising but requires robust data governance and standards. Importance of Fundamentals: Good governance, workflow optimization, and training are crucial in creating sustainable healthcare IT systems. Digital Health Literacy: Clinicians need focused training on using digital tools correctly rather than deep technical knowledge. Cybersecurity Preparedness: Hospitals must prioritize business continuity planning to prepare for potential cyber attacks. www.facesofdigitalhealth.com Newsletter: https://fodh.substack.com/ Show notes: [00:04:00] Optimism in Canadian Digital Health [00:06:00] The Role of AI and Data Standards [00:08:00] Transition from Policy to Practice [00:10:00] The Fundamentals of IT in Healthcare [00:16:00] Tackling Unstructured Data [00:22:00] Continuous Improvement in Healthcare IT [00:26:00] Digital Health Literacy for Clinicians [00:34:00] Cybersecurity and Business Continuity [00:38:00] Closing Remarks and Advice The importance of strong relationships with vendors and clinicians in solving technical challenges in healthcare IT. Final thoughts on the continuous nature of digital health optimization and the need for sustainable, well-communicated strategies.

In healthcare, consultants are present more often than we might realise: they work with healthcare providers to improve clinical efficiency, manage costs, implement new technologies, or streamline administrative processes. They can help with regulatory compliance, help insurance companies design new poducts, governments hire them to help with policy development, program evaluation, and implementation of new regulations.  In this episode we take a look under the hood of consultancy work, where governments make biggest mistakes and how consultants approach problem-solving. Mehdi Khaled is Internal Medicine Doctor and Fortune 50 Health Tech Executive, with over 25 years of international experience. He has helped shaping many large-scale, transformative digital health projects across four continents and within 40 health systems. As a Managing Partner at Seha, he specializes in developing and executing cutting-edge health and digital health strategies, with a strong emphasis on the meaningful use of data to drive health system improvements. www.facesofdigitalhealth.com Newsletter: https://fodh.substack.com/ Topics covered: 00:04 - The Role of Consultants in Healthcare 00:06 - Challenges of Accountability 00:08 - Core Principles for Healthcare 00:10 - Singapore's Healthcare Success 00:12 - Implementing Technology in Healthcare 00:14 - The Balance Between Technology and Clinical Needs 00:16 - The Importance of Clinical Engagement 00:18 - Managing Technology in Healthcare Exploration of the concept of "management debt," where poor decision-making leads to the accumulation of ineffective technologies. 00:20 - Cultural Differences in Healthcare 00:22 - Bridging the Knowledge Gap in Digital Health 00:24 - Case Studies and Real-World Examples 00:26 - The Need for Long-Term Vision 00:28 - Lessons from Singapore and Catalonia 00:30 - Technology-Driven Change in Healthcare 00:32 - Overcoming Barriers to Innovation 00:34 - The Future of Digital Health 00:36 - Building Local Capacity 00:38 - Avoiding Dependency on Consultants 00:40 - Final Thoughts on Healthcare Consulting

Catalonia published a new digitalization strategy in 2017. It set a new path of the healthcare IT infrastructure, based on open-platform approach, focusing on data persistence with the use of openEHR data specification. In this discussion, you will hear from Jordi Piera Jiménez, Director of the Digital Health Strategy Office at the Catalan Health Service and Director at openEHR International, representing organisational members. He discussed specifics of the Spanish healthcare market, how far Catalonia came since 2017, how is Catalonia building, using and updating a multi-morbidity scoring system for patients which enables easier clinical decision making, cybersecurity attacks and ultimate improvement in information security measures, and more. www.facesofdigitalhealth.com Newsletter: https://fodh.substack.com/

Artur Olesch is Berlin-based journalist specializing in digital health, the founder of aboutDigitalHealth.com, and the editor-in-chief of ICT&Health International. In this discussion, he shares his thoughts on the European legislation of healthtech, his thoughts on most intriguing books in tech and AI, and more.  His 3 book picks:  Ray Kurzweil - Singularity is nearer  Ethan Mollick - Co-Intelligence: Living and Working with AI Philip E. Tetlock, Dan Gardner - Superforecasting: The Art and Science of Prediction Show notes: 03:00 About Ray Kurzweil - Singularity is nearer  10:00 Ethical use of healthcare data - how sharing is connected to democratic values  14:00 Data analytics and data use examples and inspiration 17:00 DiGA in the field: do doctors know it  18:45 Approach to behavioral health improvement and the role of digital 20:00 Book 2: Ethan Mollick - Intelligence  22:58 Predicting disease - yes or no?  26:00 Best insights from conference, top topic: ambient intelligence systems  35:00 Hopes and fears about the future of healthcare digitalization www.facesofdigitalhealth.com Newsletter: https://fodh.substack.com/

John Halamka is the President of the Mayo Clinic Platform and a leading expert in digital health and AI. He has traveled to 21 countries, helping to scale digital health solutions and address regulatory and ethical challenges in the reuse of healthcare data. Addressed topics in this discussion: 1. Differences in regulatory frameworks and cultural expectations across countries. 2. Comparison of the U.S. and European approaches to AI and data exchange. 3. Risks associated with generative AI and the need for a credibility scores. 4. Observations from various countries on AI adoption. Importance of local tuning for algorithm validation. 5. Data Standards and Future Trends. 6. Advice for Governments and Healthcare Institutions: Encouraging a proactive approach to AI adoption -Starting with low-risk projects and building trust and reliability. Website: www.facesofdigitalhealth.com Newsletter: https://fodh.substack.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tH9qYpFW-W8

You may not have heard about Prenuvo, but you probably know Kim Kardashian. Or perhaps you know about Prenuvo because of Kim Kardashian. Prenuvo offers whole-body MRI scans for $2500. About 3-4% of people get something discovered, 10% have detected changes that require follow-ups. Opinions about the usefulness of these scans are diverse, with some hesitation on the clinical side. At HLTH Europe, the CEO Andrew Lacy explained:

If you ever want to go to a healthcare innovation conference that doesn't shy away from potentially controversive topics, HLTH is your place to go. In June 2024, the conference, which attracts 12,000 people in the US, came to Europe. At the center of the exhibition hall stood the Heart Stage focused on topics related to women's health. Around it were the exhibitor booth and other stages, each designed with a different theme, each like a theatre setup that made speakers feel like stars. Why do people love going to HLTH? Because it's focused on the experience of the attendees in “a little extra” way. The ticket includes meals, music, there were massage and hair salon in the middle of the exhibition floor, lots of evening networking events, from more formal but still unusual ones, such as the Phillips reception in a museum, to the closing evening with a concert by The Libertines. When the experience is good, and festival-live, it attracts people. When people come, you very quicky attract VIPs of the industry, who many hope to meet and do business with. Win win. In this episode, you will hear impressions and insights from speakers and attendees of the event. You will hear about: partnerships and investment in Europe, women's health, the German market, what companies don't understand about patient engagement, and AI.  Speakers: John Halamka, President of Mayo Clinic Platform, Sara Schmachtenberg, Digital Health Venture Expert / Head of Data and Analytics, Europe & USA at Galen Growth, Simon Phillip Rost, the Chief Marketing Officer at GE Healthcare, Jen Horonjeff, PhD, Founder and CEO of Savvy Cooperative, and Ronnie Sharpe, co-founder and COO at Savvy Cooperative, Christophe Jauquet, Author & Professional Keynote Speaker on how business & technology shape a healthier, happier, more sustainable future.  Dorothée Marie-Louise Doepfer, Deputy Head of Digital Labs / Program Management Digital Health Accelerator & Community Building & Co-organizer Berlin Institute of Health at Charité. www.facesofdigitalhealth.com Newsletter: fodh.substack.com

Debates around equity and equality, especially concerning men and women and female representation, can become heated and divisive quickly. For a long time, female bodies have been perceived merely as male bodies with different reproductive organs. However, the differences go beyond that: 80% of people with autoimmune conditions are women, 66% of Alzheimer's disease patients are women, and symptoms of cardiovascular diseases present differently in women and men, among other disparities. These health issues significantly impact women's productivity. In today's episode, you will hear a recording from the Healthcare Business Women Ljubljana meetup focused on women's health. Joy Rios, founder of HIT Like a Girl Media joined the discussion on women's health and how the unique aspects of women's health are impacting digital health companies and businesses. While less than a quarter of CEOs in digital health companies are women, in femtech companies, 76% of founders, co-founders, and CEOs are women. Website: www.facesofdigitalhealth.com Newsletter: https://fodh.substack.com/ Show notes: [00:02:00] Guest Speaker: Joy Rios [00:03:00] Current State of Women's Health Common associations with women's health: menstrual health apps (Clue), pelvic floor training (Elvie), sexual health (Rosy). Innovations in women's health: apps for sexual assault victims, and addressing menopause and ovarian health. [00:04:00] Research and Development Only 4% of R&D budgets historically went into women's health topics. Inclusion of women in clinical trials has improved, but gaps remain in medical device trials. [00:05:00] Challenges and Biases [00:06:00] Policy and Investment White House initiative and Melinda French Gates' $2 billion investment in removing barriers for women. [00:16:00] Impact of Abortion Rights on Women's Health Roe v. Wade overturned, affecting access to abortion and impacting startups in the field. Differences in state laws create challenges in providing consistent healthcare. [00:22:00] Inspiring Developments Policy changes in Mexico leading to increased female representation in politics. Mexico's progressive stance on women in leadership positions. [00:26:00] Advice for Women in Healthcare Business Identify unique opportunities and unmet needs in healthcare. Understand regulations and compliance. Build a supportive community and collaborate.

Rome was buzzing with digital health at the end of May as the HIMSS Europe conference took place at La Nuova Congress Center. Delegates from 80 countries and representatives of health ministries of 20 countries marked the event with discussions about the implementation of EHDS, the EU AI Act, and more.  In this episode, a few participants share their impressions from the discussions at the conference and the current state of healthcare digitalization in Europe. You will hear from:  Jordi Piera-Jiménez. Director of the Digital Health Strategy Office, Catalan Health Service, who shared his view and experience on data management and data standards,  Rachel Dunscombe , CEO of openEHR foundation and former the UK AI council member leading on AI in digital health and care, who presented the discussions on AI, Svava María Atladóttir, Executive Director of Development, Landspítali National University Hospital Iceland, about what it takes to build a new hospital which is what she needs to do by 2030,  Nana Odom, Director of Clinical Engineering at the Cleveland Clinic in London, who shared her advice for clinical engineers, Diana van Stijn, Chief Medical Officer and co-founder of Lapsi Health and resident of Pediatrics at UMC Amsterdam, who talked about the doctor's perspective on the use of tech and upskilling,  Luke Evason, Consultant and Monica Kleiijn Evason, Leadership Coach and Book Author, who both talked about the patient perspective on gaps in healthcare, particulary at the transfer of children going from pediatric to adult care.  Data quality is key for quality AI, another big topic globally, with regulation outlined in Europe with the EU AI Act. Where are discussions in healthcare? The EU AI Act is here, and discussions now resolve around implementation and technical questions.  The potential of data is huge… if the data is of good quality. This doesn't only refer to clinical notes doctors input in electronic health records, but also how other data from devices, laboratories and more flows into EHR. Oftentimes, hospitals still battle with lack of interoperability and manual transcriptions between systems or from devices for vital signs, infusions pumps, etc. to clinical systems. This creates opportunities for errors. Hospitals that have all the systems connected, need to be mindful of other challenges. Cybersecurity went well beyond teaching employees to spot phishing email. Now, third party devices can pose a cybersecurity risk, creating a whole new set of challenges and requirements. Care delivery is there for patients. Various topics were addressed at HIMSS about patients - from digital health literacy, concerns and hopes around the European health data space, there was an interoperability showcase on the showfloor which demonstrated the benefits of the European Patient Summary when patients travel abroad, of the impact of cross-border health that gives clinicians in regions outside patient's residence valuable information about their health state. Many things are still missing though. One of them being improved patient journey, especially at the transit from pediatric to adult care. Newsletter: https://fodh.substack.com/ www.facesofdigitalhealth.com

According to WHO, the global cost associated with medication errors is 42 billion US dollars. Errors can happen at the point of prescribing, transcribing from one system to the other, or administration, when the wrong patient is given either the wrong drug or the wrong dose. Medication administration errors can be prevented with the introduction of closed-loop medication management, where all points of medication handling are connected and done electronically; even medication administration is done with the help of barcode scanning of the patient barcode and medication barcode. Three European specialists from the Netherlands, UK, and Belgium recently started a European project, Asclepius, which advocated for the introduction of closed-loop medication management systems in the hospitals. They connected with colleagues from UK, France, Iceland, Belgium, Norway, Netherlands, Sweden to strive for alignment on the European level. So in today's discussion, you will hear from Patrick van Oirschot, Patrick Koch and Francine de Stoppelaar talk about the need for improved medication safety. www.facesofdigitalhealth.com Newsletter: https://fodh.substack.com/ Show notes: Main Discussion: [00:01:00] Medication administration errors can be prevented with the introduction of closed-loop medication management, where all points of medication handling are connected electronically. Guest Introductions: [00:04:00] Patrick van Oswalt ("Pat"), a veteran in hospital pharmacy with a focus on digitalization and closed-loop medication management strategies. [00:05:00] Francine de Stoppelaer, a clinical pharmacist with a 25-year career in healthcare leadership, notably involved in building and operating the Cleveland Clinic London. [00:06:00] Patrick, with a background in medical imaging and pharmacy automation, emphasizes the need for digital transformation in hospital pharmacies. Challenges and Solutions: [00:08:00] Discussion on medication safety across Europe, highlighting the significant number of medication errors and associated costs. Specific examples include 19,000 deaths per year in Germany due to medication errors. [00:10:00] Explanation of closed-loop medication management and barcode scanning at the bedside to ensure the right medication reaches the right patient. [00:14:00] Different approaches to medication management in various countries, focusing on the importance of digital and automated processes. Implementation Strategies: [00:16:00] Discussion on where hospitals should start when considering digital transformation for medication safety, highlighting the importance of electronic prescribing and bedside scanning. [00:18:00] The experience of implementing a fully digital hospital at Cleveland Clinic London, including workforce planning and gaining buy-in from healthcare professionals. Project Overview: [00:20:00] Introduction to the Asclepius project and its goals to harmonize medication management workflows across Europe. [00:22:00] Highlighting the need for standardization in medication databases and the varying approaches to medication management across different countries. Impact and Future Directions: [00:24:00] The potential impact of digital and automated medication management on patient safety, efficiency, and sustainability. [00:26:00] Encouraging adoption of best practices and the importance of measuring and monetizing the benefits of closed-loop systems. [00:28:00] Challenges in convincing decision-makers and ensuring effective implementation amidst existing workloads.

The European Health Data Space is around the corner. The legislation is confirmed. How do we get to the next steps? Today you will hear a discussion with Eric Sutherland, Senior Health Economist and Digital Health Lead at OECD, who worked on the pan-Canadian health data strategy before his current role. We discussed the upcoming implementation of the European Health Data Space, what needs to happen next, how do we involve the public, encourage trust in data sharing, and also build capacity for digital health implementation. We are moving into the era of new required data professionals, not just data analysts, but also data controllers, data stewards and more.  www.facesofdigitalhealth.com Newsletter: https://fodh.substack.com/ Show notes: [00:02:00] - Eric Sutherland's background and transition from Canada to OECD [00:04:00] - Challenges and solutions in Canadian health data strategy, emphasizing the need for data stewardship and public engagement [00:06:00] - Importance of data interoperability and policy compatibility across regions [00:08:00] - Goals of Canadian health data strategy and its impact, focusing on improving healthcare delivery through better data utilization. [00:10:00] - Governance and collective impact in Canadian healthcare [00:12:00] - European health data space and public engagement [00:14:00] - Opt-out provisions and public interest in European health data space [00:16:00] - Setting standards and policy compatibility in Europe [00:18:00] - Learning from historical approaches in healthcare data strategies [00:20:00] - Digital health literacy and public engagement [00:22:00] - Simplifying communication in digital health [00:24:00] - Role of patient leaders and public deliberation in health policy [00:26:00] - Public expectations on health data usage [00:28:00] - Economics of digital health and ROI [00:30:00] - Utilizing health data for policy and research [00:32:00] - Interoperability and investment in digital health infrastructure [00:34:00] - Shifting towards a prevention-based health system [00:36:00] - Workforce and capacity building in digital health [00:38:00] - Automation and the future of health workforce

AI and predictive modeling to understand an individual's immune system function and predict treatment response are still in very early stages. We dream about precision medicine and getting every answer we can for ourselves when we get sick. However, if we look at genomics, only about 20 percent of human coding genes are well-studied. The remaining 80 percent (about 16,000 genes, along with the proteins they make) are largely a mystery.  In this episode, you will hear more about the field of immuno-oncology, understand the correlation between tumor development and immune system response, and trends in cancer detection and prevention, especially liquid biopsies - tests for detecting tumors in blood samples.  Speaker: Brian Hashemi - Executive Chairman and CEO of Novigenix - a Swiss-based biotech company using AI and RNA sequence analysis to capture the cancer immunity cycle during the multi-stage disease progression and response to therapy. www.facesofdigitalhealth.com https://fodh.substack.com/ Show notes: [00:02:00] The use of AI and RNA sequence analysis in capturing the cancer immunity cycle and disease progression [00:04:00] Biotech in Switzerland [00:06:00] The impact of Swiss biotech capabilities on global healthcare and the specific advancements made by Swiss companies in the field. [00:08:00] Predictions and hopes for the future of healthcare technology, especially in the realms of cancer detection and treatment. [00:10:00] Challenges and opportunities in biotech, and the role of AI in advancing healthcare. [00:12:00] Challenges in Colorectal Cancer Screening [00:14:00] The Impact of Liquid Biopsy on Clinical Trials and Drug Development [00:16:00] Market Adoption and Patient Accessibility to Liquid Biopsy Tests [00:18:00] The Future of Liquid Biopsy and Precision Medicine [00:20:00] Real-world Application and Impact of Novel Biomarkers [00:22:00] Expanding the Reach of Novel Diagnostics Beyond Switzerland [00:24:00] Partnerships and Collaborations to Accelerate Adoption

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) brings together six Arab countries – Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates  When one reads about the GCC countries, there's nothing but the impression of prosperity: high investments, determination, and enthusiasm in tech-supported healthcare.  The spending on healthcare by the GCC governments is on an astronomical rise. From a regionwide US$2.4 billion in 2016, it rose to more than US$30 billion in 2021 and is projected to surpass US$104 billion this year, according to a report from the UAE Ministry of Economy.  In this episode, Pilar Fernandez Hermida  International Go-to-Market expert with 20+ years of experience launching sales & partner ecosystem strategies, talks about the potential of the Middle East and MENA region for healthtech companies, the culture in the Middle East, how to interpret different style of communication here, what are the common entrepreneurial misconceptions, and where to find opportunities. Pilar says that the entrepreneurial spirit here is 10-times as strong as in the US, and that biotech and drug development are the next thing to watch for in the region. www.facesofdigitalhealth.com Newsletter: https://fodh.substack.com/ Show notes: [00:02:00] Pilar Fernandez Hermida, an expert in healthcare market strategies, shares insights from Abu Dhabi. [00:04:00] Analysis of the healthcare infrastructure development in GCC post-pandemic. [00:08:00] The role of expats in the Middle East's healthcare transformation. [00:10:00] Public-private partnerships as key opportunities. [00:12:00] Cultural considerations for startups in the GCC. [00:14:00] Misconceptions about the Middle Eastern healthcare market. [00:18:00] Building long-term relationships in business. [00:20:00] Navigating diverse cultural communication in healthcare. [00:24:00] Comparing the entrepreneurial spirit in the Middle East with the U.S. and Europe. [00:28:00] Strategic advice for healthcare entrepreneurs targeting the GCC. [00:30:00] Importance of understanding regulations and digital maturity in MENA. [00:32:00] Future potential in biotech and digital health in the GCC. [00:36:00] The convergence of digital health and biotech.

In the last few years, we've witnessed a whirlwind of developments in the world of Digital Therapeutics (DTx) - from FDA approvals sparking optimism for the industry, to the establishment of regulatory frameworks in countries like Germany, France, and Belgium. However, in 2023, the industry faced a stark reality check, marked by the fall of some key players and healthcare systems' hesitancy towards embracing and financing these innovations. This turbulence has reshaped strategies and raised critical questions about the future of DTx.

Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) have become increasingly integral in healthcare for assessing the effectiveness of treatments from the patient's perspective. It sounds like a reasonable step in improving clinical research and care provision, but gathering data can be more difficult then you may think. It isn't easy to get to marginalized communities. There are language barriers in collecting data. There are cultural aspects that impact responses. So, how can you design useful electronic solutions for patient-reported outcomes? Hear from Mustafa Ali Syed, Researcher at the Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, The University of Manchester, and Ben James, Co-founder/Chief Design Officer at uMotif - ePRO, an engagement platform designed to power clinical and real-world research. Both are co-authors of a recently published paper titled Exploring the Cross-cultural Acceptability of Digital Tools for Pain Self-reporting. www.facesofdigitalhealth.com Newsletter: https://fodh.substack.com/ Show notes: 00:00:00 Why Do PROs Matter? 00:04:00 Evolution of Data Collection 00:06:00 Importance of Diversity in Clinical Trials 00:08:00 Ethnicity, Culture, and Pain Perception 00:12:00 The Role of Technology in PROs 00:14:00 Designing Inclusive Digital Solutions 00:20:00 Challenges in Engaging Targeted Populations 00:22:00 Language and Communication Barriers 00:26:00 The Future of PRO Research

Did you know that Belgium has had an idea for classifying and validating digital therapeutics since 2018? A clear framework was formed with all main stakeholders involved - from health insurance to the industry. So why are we not hearing more about DTx in Belgium? In this discussion you will hear from Dr. Steven Vandeput -  he is the Advisor for Digital MedTech and Services & Technologies Home Assistance in Belgium; he is managing the mHealthBelgium portal and, since 2019, has been a representative for beMedTech, the sector federation that represents the industry of medical technologies in Belgium.  Website: www.facesofdigitalhealth.com Newsletter: https://fodh.substack.com/ Show notes: 00:00 - Introduction 01:45 - Digital Therapeutics in Belgium 03:50 - Belgium's Healthcare Framework Development 06:00 - The Validation Pyramid and Reimbursement System 08:00 - Fate of Pilot Projects and Their Impact 10:00 - Utilization of mHealth Belgium Portal 12:00 - Challenges in Reimbursement and Financing 14:00 - Prospects for Digital Therapeutic Companies 16:00 - Belgium's Approach to Financing Digital Health 18:00 - Anticipations for the Digital Health Field 20:00 - The Evolving European Frameworks 22:00 - Impact of Political Decisions and Healthcare System Integration 24:00 - The Future of mHealth Belgium Platform