Healthcare authorities across Europe are struggling due to rising healthcare costs, budget cuts, and in recent years from COVID-19 which has disrupted the healthcare system but also changed the way we receive services such as health care. Cancer management unlike other diseases is more complex and requires long-term care that deals not only with diagnosis and effective treatment but also with attention to quality-of-life issues. As we saw in a previous article, European countries have different systems and resources to deal with these challenges.
e-health solutions: Barriers & facilitators
In response to these challenges, eHealth solutions have already emerged. But as you can guess not without obstacles. We continue to see a lack of regulatory frameworks, reimbursement schemes, and a lack of evidence to ensure the safe and secure adoption of digital medical solutions for healthcare. However, the benefits of eHealth are clear for those who may need medical delivery but are unable to receive it due to a lack of resources or limited access.
On the other hand, technological developments allow eHealth services to gain more and more attention to the provision of general and specialized care becoming potential tools for supporting patients. As we have witnessed, COVID has provided evidence that healthcare services (you can read here a very informative article here by McKinsey & Company) such as virtual care and remote patient monitoring can be delivered remotely. At the same time, we are witnessing new complementary services appearing on the market, focusing on patient well-being, and widely supported by smartphones and wearables.
The new kid on the block: Artificial Intelligence
AI has also come into play due to the growing amount of medical data and ever-increasing computing capabilities. The basic idea is that AI will provide new decision-making methods that lead to better implementation of necessary actions to improve patient outcomes and quality of life. Based on these developments, it has already been proven that we can expect reduced costs, fewer errors in medical facilities, and increased successful outcomes.
As active members of the digital healthcare stage, ASCAPE partners develop AI-based services to help physicians deliver holistic patient-centered care, personalize interventions, and thereby improve the efficiency of healthcare systems and enable cost savings, disrupting the Iron Triangle of Healthcare.
Talking business
We don't like to waste resources creating a platform and then put it in the drawer after the project is complete. We know the business trends related to the expected project results. Therefore, we came up with two main value propositions:
- AI-based services for better managing QoL issues
We offer an AI-powered platform to help healthcare providers manage patient QoL interventions. ASCAPE will support them with consulting, healthcare delivery, data transformation services, and overall access to ASCAPE AI-based services.
- AI-based services for helping policymakers.
Healthcare authorities are responsible for formulating and implementing policies that meet the demand for care in an under-resourced environment. ASCAPE will support policymakers with advisory services related to insights about the potential association of policy implementation and expected public health outcomes, as well as the financial burden for both policy implementation and future economic implications.
What’s needed?
Such solutions still need time to fully enter real clinical practice. Social, clinical, and economic evidence must be demonstrated to define realistic business models based on cost-effective AI-based services. So, there is still a long road ahead of us but the rewards will be both relevant and valuable!