Image
open, interoperable and safe telehealth platform (CCS TELEHEALTH OSTSACHSEN)
Published on 22 August 2018
Germany
Dresden
This is the good practice's implementation level. It can be national, regional or local.
About this good practice
The platform intends to help overcome former limitations in healthcare. To do this, the project makes an open and universally applicable IT platform available for the healthcare of an entire region in Eastern Saxony and beyond. Thanks to CCS-THOS clinics, physicians, nurses, other medical service providers and patients at home are connected by means of own, secure data networks. The patients can meanwhile also play an active part and communicate with hospital personnel in real time.
The development of the CCS-THOS system until June 2015 included the establishment of telemedicine workplaces, procurement of tablets and IP phones for patients, and the installation of high-quality servers, scanners and a central data base.
The parties involved in this first implementation stage include the Dresden Cardiology Centre, Dresden University Hospital, Leipzig University Hospital, the Saxon Hospital in Arnsdorf, and the Klinikum Oberlausitzer Bergland in Zittau.
The main objective of CCS-THOS is to create an infrastructure that is widely available, interoperable, extensible and safe.
CCS-THOS is a solution for everyone. It is not limited to individual medical fields or regions, but can be expanded to include virtually all areas of healthcare. It is designed to ensure high-quality, fast and nearby medical care for the population, and to prevent imbalances between the care available at urban centers and in rural areas.
The development of the CCS-THOS system until June 2015 included the establishment of telemedicine workplaces, procurement of tablets and IP phones for patients, and the installation of high-quality servers, scanners and a central data base.
The parties involved in this first implementation stage include the Dresden Cardiology Centre, Dresden University Hospital, Leipzig University Hospital, the Saxon Hospital in Arnsdorf, and the Klinikum Oberlausitzer Bergland in Zittau.
The main objective of CCS-THOS is to create an infrastructure that is widely available, interoperable, extensible and safe.
CCS-THOS is a solution for everyone. It is not limited to individual medical fields or regions, but can be expanded to include virtually all areas of healthcare. It is designed to ensure high-quality, fast and nearby medical care for the population, and to prevent imbalances between the care available at urban centers and in rural areas.
Expert opinion
The diffusion of telemedicine is both an opportunity and a challenge for many European regions. It is an opportunity because it may reduce health costs and improve patients’ health outcomes. It is a challenge as it requires putting in place complex ICT management systems and the adoption of new technologies by the medical staff and patients. Indeed, the infrastructures included the establishment of telemedicine workplaces, procurement of tablets and phones for patients, and the installation of high-quality servers, scanners, and a central data base. In Eastern Saxony, the telemedicine platform CCS Telehealth aims to create an infrastructure that is widely available, interoperable, extensible and safe for patients in urban centres and more rural settings.
Suggestions for potential Good Practice transfer:
-The telemedicine platform CCS Telehealth has developed an expertise in the following three areas: telecoaching for patients with heart problems, telepathology for using medical scanners, and telestroke for monitoring post-stroke patient. Regions that are developing telemedicine platforms in similar areas could learn from the experience of CCS Telehealth.
-Working groups and advisory boards that involve all major stakeholders—medical staff, private companies, policymakers, and patients—should regularly meet to find solutions to emerging challenges coming from using telemedicine platforms.
Suggestions for potential Good Practice transfer:
-The telemedicine platform CCS Telehealth has developed an expertise in the following three areas: telecoaching for patients with heart problems, telepathology for using medical scanners, and telestroke for monitoring post-stroke patient. Regions that are developing telemedicine platforms in similar areas could learn from the experience of CCS Telehealth.
-Working groups and advisory boards that involve all major stakeholders—medical staff, private companies, policymakers, and patients—should regularly meet to find solutions to emerging challenges coming from using telemedicine platforms.
Works at
Interreg Europe Policy Learning Platform
Resources needed
The development of the telemedicine platform has been co-financed by ERDF and the Free State of Saxony, with a sum total of 9.8 million euros. Another 20% of its funding came from private funding by both project partners.
Evidence of success
Three applications demonstrate the potential of the infrastructure: Telecoaching: Home monitoring and case management for patients with heart insufficiency (150 users, 1 institution). Telepathology: Pathological tissue slices are scanned by high performance medical scanner (2 institutions). Telestroke: Case manager organizes outpatient care of stroke patients after hospital discharge, uses e-health infrastructure and electronic records for managing pathways (350 users, 3 institutions).
Potential for learning or transfer
A fundamental concern of the new service platform is the easy transferability to various medical applications across different regions in Europe. The technical and financial investments required from potential providers of telehealth services for establishing a new network of their own is markedly reduced and patients will quickly benefit from innovative services provided by the telehealth infrastructure. An interoperable, open and safe telehealth infrastructure is the one key element for establishing digital services in health care. In regions experiencing ageing population and a decrease in healthcare structure quality, establishing such a platform and the adjacent digital healthcare services will increase service quality - not only, but especially in rural areas. Advisory and management boards involving all major stakeholders and potential partners/payors help with coping the challenges during scaling up.
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.
Organisation
Carus Cosilium Sachsen GmbH and T-Systems International GmbH
Germany
Dresden
Contact
project coordinator