The world economy is undergoing tremendous technological upheaval – also known as the digital transformation.
Industry 4.0 describes a fundamental innovation and transformation process of industrial value creation. The leitmotifs of this change are new ways of doing business and working in global, digital ecosystems. Already today, rigid and firmly defined value chains are being replaced by flexible, highly dynamic and globally-networked value networks with new types of cooperation. Data-driven business models are focusing on customer benefit and a solution orientation and replacing product centricity as the predominant paradigm of industrial value creation. Availability, transparency and access to data are key success factors in the networked economy and decisively define competitiveness.
Industry 4.0 is currently the number one topic of discussion in business and the media. But it is not only the digital revolution in the industrial sector that continues to advance. All other sectors, such as healthcare, are also undergoing systematic and drastic change. Consequently, “Healthcare 4.0” is a term that is currently used a lot. We see in the media the emergence of some innovative trends that benefit the healthcare sector and of course us as users.
Healthcare 4.0 – Digital Healthcare Act
Are you already familiar with the DVG? This is the law for improved healthcare provision through digitization and innovation that was discussed at the first reading in the Bundestag on September 27, 2019. Using a secure data network in the healthcare system, users can access online consultations or have apps on prescription. All these things are made possible by the “Act for Better Healthcare Provision through Digitization and Innovation” (Digitale-Versorgung-Gesetz – DVG).
Practical health gadgets – health apps on prescription
Many of us already use various health apps. They help us, for example, to take our medicines regularly or to record our blood sugar levels. In the future, such apps may be prescribed by doctors and paid for by statutory health insurance companies. In order to make this process as unbureaucratic as possible, access to app manufacturers will be facilitated. After an app has been tested for data security, data protection and functionality by the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM), statutory health insurance companies will provisionally pay for it for one year. During this time, the manufacturer must prove to BfArM that the app improves healthcare provision. It must also negotiate the price to be paid for it with the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Companies.
A digital network for the health sector
What exactly does this mean? Patients should be able to use digital services such as electronic patient files throughout Germany as quickly as possible, and video consultations should become part of everyday life.
Vivy – a model for the health ecosystem
Vivy is taking advantage of the digital transformation in healthcare, linking Vivy patients, insurers and service providers such as doctors and laboratories. Private and statutory health insurance companies are exploiting joint synergies and through Vivy are aiding patients to improve their health. Vivy is a digital platform for the healthy and sick that links them with doctors, hospitals, laboratories, health insurance companies and health and fitness providers. Digitally networked and, most importantly, interoperable. After all, fitness trackers are also intended to be linked with Vivy.
Interoperability – the cornerstone for seamless cooperation between all stakeholders
In today’s competitive business environment, seamless collaboration between all stakeholders is essential for mastering the complexity of decentralized ecosystems. Help from partners who supplement your strengths with other relevant skills such as technology, data, analysis or customer and industry knowledge, which can serve as sources of innovation. Cooperation and open ecosystems naturally enable pluralism and flexibility.
In the coming blog articles, we will focus on concrete application examples as regards interoperability within the industry.
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