Digital Networking for Improved Care of Patients with Cancer in East Bavaria

In the “Master Plan for Healthcare” presented at the end of 2017 (see also Press Release No. 191) within the recommendations for action in the chapter “Digitalization and E-Health”, digital solutions for regional healthcare were also initiated. It is from here that the BioPark commenced its “Digital Health Initiative Regensburg” (also see Press Release No. 195). One of the first potential partners is the Comprehensive Cancer Center East (CCCO), which as a   clinical and scientific institution coordinates interdisciplinary oncology healthcare, research as well as training and further education in East Bavaria.

“The main purpose of the CCCO is that all patients with tumor disease have access to medical care to treat tumors which is based on the most up-to-date knowledge, is personalized and state-of-the-art”, explained Prof. Tobias Pukrop from the University Hospital Regensburg (UKR), director at the CCCO. Under the leadership of the UKR and the St. Josef Hospital, university clinics, institutes, departments and interdisciplinary centers with a regional network of clinics providing acute care and rehabilitation, local doctors and practices, caregiving services and palliative services and hospice services as well as self-help groups and therapists cooperate with each other at the CCCO from the entire East Bavarian area from Lower Bavaria to Upper Palatinate.

The patients at the CCCO often move back and forth during their treatment between the various care-providing institutions mentioned above. In doing so the patients’ medical data and in particular the imaging data must also transfer from one doctor to another. “Unfortunately often the patients arrive at the doctor providing further care more quickly than their treatment data and MRI, CT or x-rays”, continued Prof. Pukrop. “As at the moment we are only often able to use regular post to send the information safely to colleagues. There is a lack of a comprehensive modern digital network solution and we want to change that. This would simplify the work undertaken together between our doctors and very much help the treatment and care of our patients with cancer.”

 

What this kind of digital network solution for the region could look like was discussed by representatives of various network partners at the CCCO which took place on 21.6. in a workshop at the BioPark. “With Initiative Healthcare Regensburg, managed by the BioPark, we have created a framework for the stakeholders on-site to kick start and support current topics around healthcare for the region”, said Dr. Thomas Diefenthal, CEO of BioPark Regensburg GmbH.

“So as not to reinvent the wheel we have invited experts to the workshop who have presented best     practice models in workshops such as Telehealth Plattform in East Saxony or the excellent TKmed solution from an earlier model project in the region” explained Dr. Oliver Müller, moderator of the workshop, author of the location analysis in 2015 and partner at Detecon International GmbH in the field of pharma and health, who with his consultancy team supported the process to the development of the master plan.

“We want to kick start the formation of a consortium with our activities, which then – similar to the example from East Saxony – can apply for structural support via funding from the EU”, highlighted Dr. Ilja Hagen, Project Manager of Healthcare at the BioPark. Within the framework of the project “Funding of Healthcare in Regensburg / Healthcare Cluster” the State of Bavaria is specially funding two positions created for this purpose as well as materials for the first three years.

Workshop participants from left to right : Heiko Smetak (RCI), Daniela Drube (Detecon), Atanas Igatov (Klinikum St. Josef), Wolfgang Börner (Uniklinikum Regensburg, UKR), Jonathan Sasse (Tumorzentrum Regensburg), Peter Weber (Telekom Healthcare), Julia Maurer (UKR), Judith Rehwald (UKR), Daniel Heudobler (UKR), Bernhard Heilmeier (Barmherzige Brüder, BHB), Michael Neske (Chili/Nexus), Sandra Windschüttl (UKR), Christian Rehm (BHB), Björn Schliekmann (Radiologie Dr. Neumaier), Tobias Pukrop (UKR/CCCO), Thomas Diefenthal (BioPark), Ilja Hagen (BioPark), Andreas Lienemann (Radiologie Mühleninsel), Jürgen Schmid (Klinikum St. Marien Amberg), Robert Dworschak (Kliniken Nordoberpfalz), Johannes Deininger (UKR), Susanne Leipelt (BHB), Alexander Straube (UKR), Mario Weidisch (Tagesklinik Dr. Vehling-Kaiser), Oliver Müller (Detecon)