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HIMSS 2022 Europe - Leading the digital health debate
Armin Scheuer, VP and Executive Director EMEA for HIMSS, details the importance of digital health and how HIMSS22 Europe can be a crucial venue for innovation
Digital health has been at the forefront of the healthcare debate for a long time. We all understand the need to harness the power of digital which is why it is so important to engage with digital health in a meaningful way. Through collaboration and interaction with our colleagues from all corners of the world, we can push the debate even further, and shine a light on how we can improve.
At HIMSS22 Europe, attendees and delegates alike will have an unprecedented opportunity to engage with one another and examine the next steps for digital health together. Thought leaders can look forward to examining issues to be challenged, what needs to change, and how digital can provide the best tool for revolutionising our health systems.
As such, Armin Scheuer, VP and Executive Director EMEA for HIMSS, shared his thoughts on some of the key areas of interest at the HIMSS22 Europe conference in Helsinki.
Q: What needs to change in the global health ecosystem?
A: I truly believe that we need to realise the full health potential of every human everywhere - which is the vision of HIMSS. Increasing health equity through the power of information and technology is HIMSS’ contribution to that. In highly developed countries, we would be looking at personalised healthcare, active ageing technologies or the use of artificial intelligence to support prevention and treatments of disease. In developing countries, the focus might be on ensuring access to basic health information and care through the mobile phone. But overall, the three major challenges - at least in developed countries - are the silver tsunami because of an ageing population, the chronic disease burden, and the increase in healthcare cost.
Q: How can digital technology accelerate these changes?
A: Data is the lifeblood of modern healthcare, and we see a great effort globally to better manage the access and use of healthcare data. Countries across the Middle East are rolling out Health Information Exchange. In Europe, massive government investments are oating into the modernisation of hospitals
- with regards to information systems, interoperability, and patient portals; and the discussion about the creation of the European Health Data Space is making progress. COVID has shown everyone first-hand how critical data is - be it for seeing an overview of available ICU beds and ventilators, to identifying new virus variants, diagnosing Long COVID, or developing a vaccine. Now is the time to continue that path and explore all areas where data can improve health outcomes, drive research, or simplify the lives of patients and healthcare workers.
Q: What have we seen IT achieve so far in this field?
A: Have a look at Finland, where data has already transformed multiple sectors of society. The country with its progressive health system has 100 per cent of its patient records digitised. This results in high-quality healthcare data - and Finns believe that if they let researchers use that data, the return will be better healthcare and innovative medicines. In 2019 the country introduced new legislation for secondary use of health and social data. Findata has been established as a central authority which grants the required permits for data usage. What is truly amazing is that out of the 5.6m Finns, only 210 citizens have opted out of Findata; and so far, more than 400 research projects have benefited of this approach. This clear regulation of the secondary use of health data is exemplary, as it creates an environment of trust as well as legal certainty for capturing, sharing, and processing data.
Q: What are the key target areas for improvement using technology?
A: From a patient perspective, I would say it is the move from patient engagement to true patient empowerment. Initially patient engagement has been focused on giving access to health records and data in the EMR. But we are moving into a phase where digital tools - apps, wearables, and sensors - will be connected to the EMR to monitor progress. And that will lead to a shi in the patient / provider relationship in future patients and their health providers will act as partners with patients managing their health and tracking progress towards their health goals and sharing that data with their providers. Q: And how about underdeveloped healthcare systems globally - how can they change to meet today’s challenges?
A: Healthcare systems need to deploy technologies that address their very specific local situation and challenges. In India for example, the stock density of doctors is
Armin Scheuer VP & Executive Director EMEA HIMSS
7.35 per 10,000 population; in Sweden it is 70.92. Malaria is a huge health issue in many African countries; it is basically non-existent in Europe. We must understand that many developing countries simply don’t have the financial means to fund top-end technology solutions and a simple yet affordable cloudbased EMR, for example, might be more suitable than a leading-edge, high-end system. I guess what I am trying to say is, that we can learn from each other, but we cannot necessarily copy each other.
Q: Why is HIMSS22 Europe an important venue for collaboration?
A: The HIMSS22 Europe conference brings together the key decision makers from across Europe to discuss the latest digital technologies for shaping the future of health. The EU for example is investing €673bn in “recovery and resilience” of which at least
€13bn is targeting investment in digital health transformation. Healthcare and IT leaders now have a bigger-than-ever opportunity to implement advanced digital systems and solutions - they all meet this June in Helsinki.
Q: What are you hoping that HIMSS22 Europe will highlight?
A: The conference speakers and participants will look into ways of delivering next generation health and care already today. As we are about to leave the COVID-crisis mode behind us, national digital transformation programmes need to factor in a new key objective: building back stronger and more resilient health systems. I am looking forward to the digital transformation track - which also looks in developing a global understanding of digital maturity. The discussion about the European Health Data Space, the Telehealth & Cybersecurity masterclasses, as well as inspirational keynote speakers such as the President of Medicine Sans Frontiers, will ensure the event provides multiple perspectives on how to shape the future of healthcare. This includes an outstanding exhibition with the global and local technology leaders and innovators.
Q: What do you see as the key challenges in levelling up the global health economy to achieve UHC?
A: Universal health coverage gives all people access to the health services they need, when and where they need them, without financial hardship. In Europe and the UK, we have achieved a very advanced level of health equity. But, according to WHO, half of the world’s population do not have access to the health coverage they need; every year 100m people are driven into poverty through out-ofpocket health spending. This is expected to worsen with climate change as well as with geopolitical crises such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. At HIMSS, we contribute through several initiatives - for example to support interoperability, advance nursing informatics and contribute to EU projects such as Gravitate Health. Globally, we need to strengthen cooperation, talk less, act more and to establish accountability across the entire health economy to actively address the crises and opportunities that lie ahead. Promoting “Health in All Policies” - as suggested by the WHO and thoughtfully implemented in Finland, for example, could be a start.
