MEDICA 2012 PREVIEW
‘Apps may not only revolutionise the private health market, some of them also have the potential to influence how we deal with medicine at home, in hospitals and in medical practices.’
Mini-applications (apps) for
smartphones and tablet computers are also booming. What originally appeared to be nothing more than gimmicks could now be said to be ‘coming of age’. Apps may not only revolutionise the private health market, some of them also have the potential to influence how we deal with medicine at home, in hospitals and in medical practices. MEDICA will provide an overview of the latest app trends and some sample applications. A programme element organised in
cooperation with ‘dotopen’, as part of the MEDICA Health IT Forum, The ‘App Circus’ will demonstrate how this area of innovation is rapidly progressing. At the App Circus (visit:
http://appcircus.com), innovative health apps will be presented by their creators with the aim of bringing developers, start-up companies and the organisations involved in the software development, together with potential users and project partners from the medical sector and procurement. Prof. Volker Amelung, specialist
professor for international health systems research, Hannover Medical School, and member of the Expert Circle of the MEDICA Health IT Forum (Hall 15) sees
App for dialysis patients undergoing trials The current trials being carried out by organisations such as Siemens-Forschung Corporate Technology, Vivantes Clinic, Telemedicine Centre Charité (TMCC), Prisma, Tembit and other partners could also prove interesting to the health market. They are looking at how, with the help of an app, patients with kidney damage can receive dialysis in a gentle and safe manner in their own homes. In a test, which is the first of its kind in
the world, selected dialysis patients in Berlin will be equipped with a telemedical assistance system. This should enable them to perform a telemedicine-assisted peritoneal dialysis every day by themselves, with a doctor helping via remote control. The field test, which should run for
several months, is part of the ‘Smart Senior’ project funded by the Federal Ministry for Research. Its goal is to increase the quality of life for elderly people and to enable them to live a largely independent life at home. In this field test, an app on a smartphone lists the vital signs as agreed with the doctor. It guides
major opportunities in the areas of prevention and treatment adherence. As an example of a successful app in this area, he highlights ‘MyPill’ from the pharmacy ‘Zur Rose’, which offers assistance with correctly taking contraceptive pills. It not only reminds users of the correct time, but also documents, among other things, the history of the use of the pills. An adjustable warning can draw the user’s attention to an increased risk of pregnancy, if they have missed taking a pill. Similar applications, especially for complex therapy regimens – i.e. many pills and a complicated schedule that must be followed precisely, for combating HIV for example – could save money for the health service.
the patient through the measurement of blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen saturation or ECG. The measuring instruments encode the measurements and provide them with a pseudonym before sending them via a special router, known as a Med-I-Box, to the dialysis centre. The app ensures that the data has
arrived at its destination. Later, the data is saved in the patient’s medical record on the server of the TMCC. The doctor checks the vital signs and treatment data daily and also receives an automatic message if any abnormalities are detected. As a result, it is possible to detect health changes earlier than before and contact the patients immediately. In this way, complications can be avoided. These are just some of the many
developments that will be highlighted at the event. A searchable list of suppliers, products and other exhibition information, can be accessed online at:
www.medica.de
Seminar programme Also taking place alongside the trade fair will be a number of seminars and forums. This year, the ‘Tech Forum’ will address a wide range of topical medical technology themes in its seminars, in Hall 12 – some of which will be presented in English. The opening day programme will focus on international procurement concepts and global competitiveness. The main English language programme starts on Wednesday with Sustainable Procurement Strategies, presented by Professor Dr. Hans Schweisfurth, medical director at the Saudi German Hospital in Dubai. In his seminar, Dr. Schweisfurth compares the different procurement strategies and sustainability concepts of hospitals in the western world with those in the Middle East.
On Thursday, the English language
theme is Clinical effectiveness and patient outcome: people, processes and technologies and deals with the balancing act between increased need for medical supplies, on the one hand, and limited resources on the other. Professor Dr Wilfried von Eiff, director
of the Centre for Hospital Management in Münster, will lead the seminar. It will identify key factors in medical quality such as the smooth running of clinical processes, acceptable operating costs, and patient satisfaction. Dr Von Eiff will demonstrate that the average annual cost increases of 4.5% in hospitals cannot be offset with price-conscious purchasing policies or with staff cutbacks without seriously jeopardising health care. Friday will focus on hospital hygiene.
Multiresistant pathogens: challenges and solutions for clinical microbiology, hospital
36 THE CLINICAL SERVICES JOURNAL NOVEMBER 2012
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