The results of around 50 impulses in eight sessions, three plenary discussions and numerous network breaks can be seen again. The 7th Praevenire Digital Health Symposion has again established itself as a hotspot about questions of digitization in the health sector and concluded with concrete suggestions on how the numerous ideas can now be put into practice.
Low -threshold and user -friendly
“Digitization in medicine is an important building block to strengthen our solidarity health system, but cannot be a panacea,” emphasizes State Secretary Ulrike Königsberger-Ludwig. “Doctors like to work in the public health system again, and the population has to trust more.” Digitization must offer both the patients and the medical staff. “To do this, access must be low-threshold, user-friendly and safe,” continues Königsberger-Ludwig. Important steps are the further development of the electronic health file ELGA, uniform offers across federal state borders, the connection of all health professions and a meaningful diagnosis coding. “Only if we think of all users can digitization raise real efficiency potential and improve the care sustainably,” the State Secretary is convinced.
Katina Sostmann, service and product designer for national and international projects related to digital health care, also underlines that digital health care must be thought holistically. “Digital tools or electronic patient files only develop their benefits when they support the entire patient journey. They have to be understandable, safe and barrier -free,” emphasizes Sostman and advocates early prototypes, clear user orientation and data protection -compliant use of health data for research and care.
Get a doctor-patient relationship
“Artificial intelligence can make a lot of things easier, from diagnostics to documentation to organizing care. But with all efficiency, humanity must not be lost,” says Dr. Johannes Steinhart, President of the Austrian Medical Association. The doctor-patient relationship is a central element of medicine and should not be replaced by purely technological solutions. “In addition, IT and thus the AI should improve or facilitate work – and this must also be perceived by the doctors.” In his view, clear ethical, legal and organizational framework – from data protection to liability issues to the interoperability of systems. “We doctors must not let technical developments and industrial interests overlook, we have to actively help shape the digital transformation in the interest of our patients and in the sense of responsible, human medicine,” says Steinhart.
More speed and clear priorities
“With the financial equalization, we have provided 51 million euros annually for digitization in healthcare, now we have to deliver,” emphasizes Andreas Huss, MBA, chairman of the Austrian Health Insurance Fund (ÖGK). “The goal is a secure, comprehensive availability of health data via a further developed ELGA with image and laboratory data as well as a user-friendly patient summer and that quickly,” appeals the ÖGK expert. Valide is also needed for seamless patients: inner information, patient: interior security, research and health planning. Projects such as a telemedical 24/7 outpatient clinic, the integration of all health professions in ELGA and the further development of the electronic health record with complete diagnosis coding are therefore at the top of the agenda. “Digital infrastructure is not a Nice-to-haven, it is a prerequisite for modern, networked and safe health care,” emphasizes Huss.
Design digitization together
“Patients have to understand digitization in healthcare, only in this way trust can arise,” emphasizes Angelika Widhalm, Chair of the Federal Association of Self -Help Austria. She demands that offers have to be communicated even more clearly, because: “Otherwise you will remain unused, no matter how good you are.”
The final plenary of the 7th Praevenire Digital Health Symposium was below the clear guiding principle: “Implementing visions”. The experts agreed that the future of digital health care in consistent action, realistic milestones and the common will lies to change. Above all, it was emphasized that digitization must not be an end in itself and visions only become a reality when they are worn together and courageously implemented.