Digitization means more than just implementing a paper form digitally. In order for users of digital solutions to derive optimal benefit, more is needed: mobile, flexible software that enables well thought-out work processes on a robust IT infrastructure. The Healthcare Ecosystem from Netcetera and the i-engineers delivers both. In the clinic cockpit, patient data and orders are managed and displayed in one place, while the underlying health engine serves over 100 interfaces and simplifies and consolidates the integration into the existing clinic IT.

From the challenge to the solution to the exemplary implementation at the University Hospital Basel: We explain how the digital clinic workplace simplifies processes and thus frees up valuable time and resources.

The challenge of digital transformation in hospitals

Over the decades, hospitals have accumulated many different applications. The result is a high degree of process fragmentation: while one department already uses digital forms, another still orders on paper. Appointment bookings run through different systems depending on the ward or department. This increases the coordination effort required to ensure smooth day-to-day hospital operations.

The many different processes also prevent the rapid integration of new software that is directly tailored to the needs of a specific role or employee group. In addition, there are different user interfaces that make familiarization and system changes difficult. This leaves no room for individual digital workplaces.

A modern clinic thoroughly cleans up this mess, brings systems together, standardizes operation and thus improves work processes. This ensures time and financial resources for the hospital's core task: successfully treating patients.

Healthcare Ecosystem as a Service: Navigate easily through everyday hospital life with the cockpit for hospitals

A hospital is a complex and sensitive organism. Errors or delays in the operational process result in serious consequences. Therefore, any intervention in the hospital's IT systems should be "minimally invasive" to exclude side effects.

The expert team of Netcetera and the i-engineers, together with the University Hospital Basel, have designed the product "Klinik-Cockpit" as a simple entry point into the daily work routine. Just as a pilot controls and monitors all processes and functions of his airplane from the cockpit, the Klinik-Cockpit centralizes the clinic and patient view in one digital place.

From the Klinik-Cockpit dashboard, for example, doctors and nurses can access and edit patient information, as well as configure notifications in the FindingsApp and subscribe to important messages. From appointments to lab or radiology results to the patient archive, clinic employees can optimally adapt the dashboard to their own daily work routine: simply add the appropriate tab, done.

The clinic can add further content and functions to the dashboard at any time to meet individual needs. Employees find all data clearly and quickly accessible centrally in a single program.

All orders in one place

In addition to the comprehensive Patient Archive Viewer, which includes master data, medical history, examination results as well as archived documents, the Order Entry app is a particular relief for the hospital. Every day, thousands of orders and requests between departments and wards need to be processed, such as registrations for laboratory analyses or appointments for radiology.

Order Entry brings all these processes together in one place. Digital forms for almost all types of requests and orders can be easily configured by employees in the hospital cockpit. A convenient shopping cart allows multiple orders to be processed simultaneously. The clear order dashboard prevents double bookings and simplifies service accounting.

Clinic Cockpit: Flexible and mobile

For a smooth integration of the Klinik-Cockpit into the existing hospital IT, third-party applications - for example, existing clinic systems - can be easily integrated. If there is no suitable interface, the respective external resources can be called directly from the cockpit. The familiar systems are still available, but employees can now find and access them in a central location.

Particularly helpful: The Klinik-Cockpit is optimized for mobile use. Clinic staff can use a tablet to call up information, trigger orders or store new information in patient records.

Digital transformation powered by health engine

The powerful health engine links all hospital processes and interfaces and brings them together in the Klinik-Cockpit. It is the engine for all process improvements in the hospital.

The health engine monitors redundant data storage, rights and role management, and legal requirements. 150 different interfaces in external and third-party systems integrate all important standards in German-speaking countries, including proprietary primary systems such as HIS, RIS, LIS or PDMS.

Data exchange with internal and external partners as well as with a patient and physician portal is possible, as well as with outpatient facilities, the IHE and the telematics infrastructure for EPA or EFA. An interface to telemedicine is also available. Data sovereignty remains with the hospital at all times. The health engine and the clinic cockpit with the integrated applications also fulfill the funding requirements of the ”Krankenhauszukunftsgesetzt” (KHZG).

Klinik-Cockpit at the University Hospital Basel reduces effort and costs

The University Hospital Basel (USB) has successfully integrated health engine and Klinik-Cockpit into its daily work routine. The hospital treats nearly 40,000 inpatients and over 1.1 million outpatients per year. The digital transformation strategy of the USB is based on the "best of service" idea: the hospital only uses the most efficient IT solutions.

Together with Netcetera and the i-engineers, Unispital Basel integrated the core elements of the Klinik-Cockpit into its own service-oriented architecture (SOA): Dashboard, Patient Archive Viewer, BefundApp and OrderEntry. The latter offers USB staff 86 digital order variants – and more are to be added, such as direct appointment booking with external partners.

"Thanks to the sophisticated and innovative solution from Netcetera and the i-engineers, we can now configure order types ourselves, process orders across all wards economically and efficiently, and reduce our efforts and costs," says Juri Toffol, Head of Department Medical Services, Digitization & ICT at the University Hospital Basel.

This cost-effectiveness is not least a direct result of the software's adaptability: proprietary developments in the dashboard, for example, help the hospital to quickly and efficiently collect information and notifications on COVID 19 diagnoses. An SMS service connected to the system automatically informs patients about the diagnosis and further measures.

The new system has been very well received at the university hospital, reports Toffol: "You can put together your own workstation [so] it's practically a no-brainer." The easy and mobile use of the services – around 300 tablets are in use in Basel – demonstrates the strengths of the Healthcare Ecosystem as a flexible and fast information system for hospitals.

Digital transformation is more than digital forms

For many hospitals and companies, the switch from paper to screen is already considered digitization. In the literal sense, this is correct – but the digital transformation actually envisioned means larger, far-reaching changes: Only when flexibility, intuitive use and individualization in a software lead to significantly better work processes can we speak of true digital transformation.

Hospitals in particular need flexible IT solutions that can quickly map changes in operational processes, individual workplaces and the market and easily integrate external systems. The Healthcare Ecosystem with health engine and Klinik-Cockpit fulfills these requirements and thus creates resources for the actual clinic work – for the benefit of the patients.