The goal of the project SODIAPH, which is conducted within the framework of the Center for Digital Diagnostics (ZDD), is to identify and classify digital data discontinuities and data continuity (interoperability) in real patient processes in clinical and settled MD settings.
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The Fraunhofer Center for Digital Diagnostics (ZDD) has set itself the goal of closing gaps in the provision of healthcare in rural areas by means of needs-oriented solutions and technologies. These are to be aligned and developed along a diagnostic value chain. In addition, the ZDD sees itself as an impulse generator for companies in the areas of diagnostics, medical technology, digital health, and health IT, as well as a partner for healthcare providers active in this field.
The project SODIAPH (State of digitization in clinical patient processes in hospitals and settled MDs) is investigating the digital fingerprints of the treatment and care of patients along settled MD and clinical patient processes, especially in rural areas. Data on treatment (diagnostics, therapy, care) is often not collected systematically and comprehensively, but is the basis of future patient-centered digitalization strategies. The goal of SODIAPH is to identify and classify digital data discontinuities and digital data continuity (interoperability) in real patient processes in hospitals. These findings will form the basis for significant improvements of data continuity and concrete recommendations for action for visionary improvements in healthcare.
The variety of software solutions in care facilities is high and their interconnections are complex and individual. In some cases, up to two dozen different software tools are used per patient process to document the data for admission, transfer, diagnostics, therapy, medication, archiving, and discharge. Important interfaces between the software tools are often missing. Digital communication between settled MD and clinical care structures is practically non-existent.
The examination of digital fingerprints of patients will reveal digital data discontinuities, data continuity, workflow integration, interoperability, and proprietary data of the software tools used. SODIAPH draws on the expertise of the Fraunhofer institutes IZI, IPA, and IESE and wants to achieve a significant improvement in the level of digitalization of patient processes in the area of settled MD and clinical care structures as well as emergency departments. Findings on digital discontinuities, in particular, will allow derivation of recommendations for action with regard to efficiency and quality in the processes for decision-makers, software makers, IT service providers, diagnostic laboratories, and manufacturers of medical devices, as well as the Fraunhofer Center for Digital Diagnostics and the participating institutes.
SODIAPH will provide a survey tool for the software tools used to enable recording the data exchanged along the patient processes. This will create a holistic, individual, and patient-centric picture of the degree of digitalization during treatment.
SODIAPH will also enable benchmarking the level of digitalization of settled MD and clinical care structures in rural areas. Furthermore, requirements on data integration, workflow integration, and interoperability in clinical workflows and future data structures are being formulated. In addition, genome analyses (Next Generation Sequencing, NGS), which technically have a high level of digitalization, are being examined in terms of their interoperability in patient processes with existing systems, and work is being done on improving existing standards.
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Fraunhofer Institute for Experimental Software Engineering IESE