Shaping The Future Of Healthcare

Today, we have watches that can note when your heart rate or blood pressure is up and warn you before it becomes a critical medical emergency. This digitalization of devices-related healthcare services has grown due to increased innovation around sensors’ technology and the advancement of data analytics. The benefits that come with it, have made the industry embrace it across other domains such as diagnostic and treatment.In this episode, Managing Board Member Christoph Zindel is joined by John Glaser, Executive in Residence at Harvard Medical School, and President of the American Telemedicine Association. He’ll share with us his insight on the progress of digitalization in the healthcare industry as well as what needs to be done to accelerate it.In today’s conversation, you’ll learn about the existing digitally enabled healthcare services and the technology that has made them possible. You’ll also learn about the risks that come with the digitalization of this critical service sector. Additionally, you’ll hear about the obstacles that have made the sector lag behind other industries in terms of digital transformation.Some Questions Asked:What digitally-enabled healthcare services are currently available? (01:59)What are the biggest opportunities in digitalizing the healthcare sector? (06:56)What can be done to accelerate healthcare’s digital transformation? (18:28)What can the healthcare industry learn from other industries in terms of digitalization? (23:21)What You’ll Learn in This Episode:The impact that modern sensors are having on the medical services industry (03:57)Risks that come with the digital transformation of healthcare systems (11:50)Mistakes that are made in approaching AI algorithm development within the healthcare industry (14:11)Things that shape digital transformation (21:55)Connect with John Glaser:LinkedInConnect with our Managing Board Member, Christoph Zindel:  LinkedIn

Climate change cannot be just wished away without stakeholders taking significant steps to reverse it. To mount an efficient offense against carbon emission, it is important that all industries understand how they contribute to it as well as the steps they can take to get measurable results. The healthcare industry has already seen some stakeholders taking steps to reduce its footprint.In this episode, Managing Board Member Christoph Zindel is joined by Dame Jackie Daniel, CEO at The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and a leading advocate for reduced carbon emissions by healthcare providers. She’ll help us understand the approach and steps that her hospital has taken to raise awareness and reduce its carbon footprint. In today’s conversation, you’ll learn about how the healthcare industry contributes to carbon emissions. We’ll also discuss why Newcastle Hospital declared a climate emergency and the steps they’ve taken since the declaration. Lastly, we’ll discuss the challenges that the industry is facing in its efforts to reduce carbon emissions.Some Questions Asked:Why were you honored by the Queen of England? (01:36)What are the major climate change issues you see for public health in general? (03:38)What are some of the key actions being taken from your side to reduce carbon emission? (15:41)What are your key strategies for reducing the wider carbon footprint? (19:29)What You’ll Learn in This Episode:Why Newcastle hospital declared a climate emergency (06:37)Environmental conservation activities that the hospital participates in (09:51)The challenges facing the carbon emission reduction efforts (22:31)The changes made at a personal level to reduce emissions (28:04)Connect with Dame Jackie Daniel:LinkedIn Connect with our Managing Board Member, Christoph Zindel:  LinkedIn

One of the biggest beneficiaries of technological advancements has been the field of medicine. While vaccines to stop previous pandemics took decades to develop, multiple COVID-19 vaccines were developed within a much shorter time frame. Increased collaboration between players in the industry and those in the tech world promises even more advancements in the near future.In this episode, Managing Board Member Christoph Zindel is joined by Stefan Schönberg, MD, director and chairman of the department of radiology and nuclear medicine at the University Medical Center Mannheim. He is former President of the German Roentgen Society and a strong proponent of integrated diagnostics.In today’s conversation, you’ll hear about integrated diagnostics and the benefits that come with it. You’ll learn about the advancements that are being made and the existing gaps that need to be closed to take the medical industry to the next level. You’ll also learn about the role that AI has in advancing diagnostics, treatment, and prevention of diseases. Lastly, we’ll discuss the role of data in medical research and the current barriers to federated learning and research.Some Questions Asked:Can you give us a glimpse of integrated diagnostics at University Hospital in Mannheim? (01:11)Do you see circulating free DNA being used in early cancer detection? (08:39)Do you believe that integrated diagnostic influences therapeutic decisions? (12:33)How do you promote cultural change connected to integrated diagnostics? (21:45)What You’ll Learn in This Episode:How integrated diagnostic can be used to understand a disease’s trajectory (05:56)What is needed to make integrated diagnostic a success (11:01)The role of the digital twin in integrated diagnostics (16:31)How federated learning evidence can accelerate medical research (18:58)Connect with Prof. Dr. Stefan Schönberg:University Hospital Mannheim Connect with our Managing Board Member, Christoph Zindel:  LinkedIn

Economic disparities around the world are an unfortunate reality. The past year has made it clearer than ever that the availability of quality healthcare for everyone benefits the whole. Globalization has forged a connection that strengthens our sense of humanity. With that sentiment in mind, it’s important that those who can help recognize that they bear a responsibility to lift up the whole. In this episode, Managing Board Member Christoph Zindel talks to Dr. Suresh de Silva, founder of Radiology Across Borders, a global charity that provides education and programs in radiology to help save lives in developing nations. Dr. de Silva is a fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists and also an Adjunct Senior Lecturer at UNSW and an Oncological/Urological radiologist.In today’s conversation, you’ll hear about the positive global impact of Dr. Suresh de Silva’s organization, Radiology Across Borders. Their numerous projects are helping not only with treatment, but also with screening and prevention in populations that need greater access to medical technology and care. You’ll also hear important perspectives on the impact and future possibilities of AI in medical care. Additionally, the conversation covers the realities of starting a global charity from the ground up, and delves into the mindset of a founder who has successfully made an impact on countless lives around the world. Some Questions Asked:What projects are you currently focused on? (9:21)What's your vision of the role of AI-supported radiology in the future? (17:43)How can other organizations learn from Radiology Across Borders? (26:27)How have you been affected privately and professionally by this pandemic? (34:56)What You’ll Learn in This Episode:The important role radiology plays in healthcare (4:52)The biggest potential impact of AI (20:51)The realities of creating a charity organization (29:15)Comparing the differences between recent pandemics (37:20)Connect with Dr. Suresh de Silva:LinkedInConnect with our Managing Board Member, Christoph Zindel:  LinkedIn

Diversity and inclusion are big topics in business today. While it’s something many organizations are striving for, it’s not always understood on a statistical or emotional level. When employees don’t feel as though they’re part of the team, the consequences can mount up to something much bigger. Feeling “apart” takes a toll on not only performance, but also the health of the employee. Likewise, a lack of diversity means a lack of varied experience. This can hold the whole team back, and foster a lack of understanding.Healthcare bears a unique responsibility when it comes to fostering an environment of comfort and consideration. Understanding the needs of patients is much more than tending to wounds and performing surgeries. At its core, it’s about empathy. When empathy and understanding exist within the work environment, only then can they effectively translate to the realm of care. In this episode, Managing Board Member Christoph Zindel interviews Prof. Dr. Ulrike Attenberger.  Professor Attenberger is Director of the Clinic for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology at Bonn University Hospital in Germany, and a member of the Diversity @ DRG Commission. Her interest in gender diversity led to her contribution to a 2018 special report entitled “Women in radiology: gender diversity is not a metric—it is a tool for excellence”, published by European Radiology.In today’s conversation, you’ll hear about the positive influence of a diverse workforce within the healthcare sector. Professor Attenberger believes that diversity allows us to embrace dimensionality, and shares how this reflects positively in the workplace. She also reveals the ways in which inclusivity can be achieved through organizational reforms, and how it has the capacity to benefit physicians as well as patients. Some Questions Asked:What is diversity and inclusion for you? (2:15)How should physicians take diversity into account in their work and training? (10:46)What can be done to increase the representation of women in leadership? (15:22)How do you foster inclusion at the University Hospital in Bonn, and in medicine as a whole? (22:38)What You’ll Learn in This Episode:The dangers of homogeneous healthcare (4:49)The most important aspect of building a successful team (7:35) What we know about unconscious bias (13:23)Ideas about how we can close the gap on gender-based career obstacles (19:25)Connect with Ulrike Attenberger:University Hospital BonnConnect with our Managing Board Member, Christoph Zindel:  LinkedIn

When we think of robots being used in surgical procedures, the concept may seem futuristic. But in reality, this type of technology has been in place for a number of years, especially in operating rooms occupied by doctors who have been personally interested in exploring the possibilities and benefits of robotic assistance. Today’s guest is considered to be a pioneer in utilizing robotic technology in his practice. It was first utilized in his hospital in Gujarat, India back in 2017, and by 2018, he had made international headlines after performing the world's first in-human robotic heart surgery. In this episode, Managing Board Member Christoph Zindel interviews Tejas Patel, Chairman & Chief Interventional Cardiologist at Apex Heart Institute in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. Dr. Patel is internationally recognized as one of the world’s pioneers in the field of Transradial Approach, and he is a long-time advocate for the use of robotics in the field of healthcare.Through the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic, robotic technology has provided a safety advantage for healthcare professionals, allowing them to perform surgical procedures without risking exposure. Today, you’ll learn about the many advantages of using robotics in healthcare, how the issue of cybersecurity is being addressed, and you’ll gain an understanding of how remote surgery is performed along with the long-term potential for this technology. Some Questions Asked:How is robot assisted therapy currently being used? (3:10)How does this technology affect the personnel requirements on site? (10:35)In which areas do you expect to see the extended use of robotics? (22:00)How do you stay healthy during a pandemic? (25:23)What You’ll Learn in This Episode:The advantage of robotics during a pandemic (5:56)Defining artificial intelligence (13:44)The challenges related to cybersecurity (15:32)The connectivity required to perform surgery remotely (19:42)Connect with Dr. Tejas Patel:LinkedInConnect with our Managing Board Member, Christoph Zindel:  LinkedIn

Every country is unique in its healthcare operations. Much of Europe has a long history of socialized medicine based on The Bismark Model, a German system dating back to 1883 which guarantees healthcare to its citizens. Programs in Europe and Asia are primarily adaptations of this model. By the 1960s, however, Finland saw the need to rethink its healthcare system and create something that served its population better. A young group of doctors who were also in charge of policymaking took the lead in creating a new model. In 1972, the current Finnish healthcare system was signed into law, making public health centers the central concept. In this episode, Managing Board Member Christoph Zindel interviews Dr. Päivi Sillanaukee, Director-General at the Finnish Ministry of Social Affairs and Health. Dr. Päivi Sillanaukee is the thematic Ambassador for Health and Wellbeing at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland as part of a pilot program of cross-sectoral cooperation on global issues. She also represents Finland on the World Health Organization’s Executive Board.We’ll learn how the healthcare model in Finland operates, the infrastructure it requires, and how this model actually encouraged digital innovation from its inception. We’ll also discover the lessons that can be extracted from this model that has been serving the Finnish population for nearly half a century. Some Questions Asked:What can we learn from the system of healthcare in Finland? (2:30)How do you view the scalability of your system? (6:00)How can access to care be improved? (9:20)What conditions do policymakers need to create for digitization? (21:37)What advantages come from diversity in healthcare? (29:51)How do you stay healthy during the long winter months in Finland? (37:59)What You’ll Learn in This Episode:The role of socialized healthcare in Finland (3:39)How Finland built the infrastructure for digitalization (10:59)Two things you need in order to have digital innovation in healthcare (14:48)Why trust in technology among populations is so important (17:36)How culture plays a role in keeping us healthy (39:13)Connect with Dr. Päivi Sillanaukee:LinkedInTwitterConnect with our Managing Board Member, Christoph Zindel:  LinkedIn

Over half of the world's population lacks access to basic healthcare. Beginning to tackle this problem requires more than structural change in the way we provide care. A true sense of purpose to create and direct those changes is vital for the structural DNA of a healthcare system to be rewired. Blindness was once a major problem for people all across India. The issue was accessibility to care in the early stages of ophthalmological complications. In 1976, Dr. Govindappa Venkataswamy opened the first Aravind Eye Hospital. The goal was to streamline care and make it more affordable while keeping the quality of care at a premium. Since its founding, the Aravind Eye Care System has expanded, serving more than 55 million patients across India. That legacy continues under the leadership of today’s guest.In this episode, Managing Board Member Christoph Zindel interviews Dr. Aravind Srinivasan, Chief Medical Officer at Aravind Eye Hospital Chennai. He is a cataract surgeon and expert in ophthalmology at Aravind Eye Care System. His focus is on management, innovation, and mentoring, specializing in evaluating and interpreting the performance of each division of AECS.  Dr. Aravind Srinivasan shares the organizational mission, being that if treatment exists, then there’s no reason for people to suffer blindness needlessly. Through streamlining and standardizing their process of care, Aravind Eye Care System has helped countless people gain access to treatment. Today we’ll hear about the personal motivation that led to building the system,  how it’s applied across India, and what it takes in terms of experience and personal drive in order to manage such a revolutionary system of healthcare.  Some Questions I Ask:Can you explain your system of healthcare? (3:36)How are you able to make care so affordable? (9:20)How have you increased accessibility to care in India? (13:21)Is telehealth contributing to accessibility during the Covid-19 pandemic? (17:55)What can other healthcare organizations learn from your model? (20:00)How do diversity and inclusion play a role in the building of your teams? (24:20) What You’ll Learn in This Episode:How the problem of accessibility was addressed (4:35)Why a sense of purpose often gets lost in the business of healthcare (7:50)How poverty created a cultural barrier to asking for care (13:50)A simple example of streamlining that helped shape AECS (20:22) Connect with Aravind Srinivasan MS, MBA:FacebookAravind Eye Care System Connect with our Managing Board Member, Christoph Zindel: LinkedIn 

In an increasingly globalized world, viral spread has been difficult to avoid. Large numbers of people are moving constantly from place to place for business and leisure, and as economic prosperity grows, movement follows suit. While we can’t prevent pandemics from happening, we can learn how to manage them better. With experience comes innovation. Today, Managing Board Member Christoph Zindel interviews Dr. Noel Yeo, the Senior Vice President of one of Asia’s largest integrated private healthcare groups, Parkway Hospitals in Singapore at Parkway Pantai. Dr. Yeo has an Executive Master of Business Administration, a Postgraduate Certificate in Medical Law and Ethics, and an Executive Diploma in Directorship. He has been leading the group as their hospital facilities have battled the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak.In this episode, Dr. Yeo tells us what it’s been like working through the COVID-19 pandemic at his hospital in Singapore. Having dealt with the SARS-CoV-1 outbreak back in 2003, Dr. Yeo provides valuable insights from that experience. We’ll talk about what he’s learned, how hospitals can prepare for future outbreaks, and the innovations that have resulted from these experiences. Dr. Yeo also talks about the importance of digitalization, and why a more patient-centric model of healthcare that leans towards prevention is the way of the future. Some Questions Asked:Having experienced another outbreak in 2003, was Singapore better prepared than other countries? (1:53)Are applications being used in Singapore to help with contact tracing? (7:27)How has the backlog of elective procedures been dealt with in Singapore? (16:50)How do you prepare for the next pandemic? (20:13)Do you expect the beds and resources used to remain beyond this pandemic waiting for the next one? (25:22)How are standard operating procedures dealt with, in such a large network? (29:53)What You’ll Learn in This Episode:The 3 point strategy used to confront SARS-CoV-2 (4:26)How SARS-CoV-2 spread among the population in Singapore (15:07)Plans for mass testing when the next wave hits (21:16)Predictions about future healthcare challenges in Asia and beyond (33:26)How we can use the abundance of data in healthcare to our advantage (37:22)One helpful innovation that is being used at Parkway Pantai (39:00)Connect with Dr. Noel Yeo:LinkedInInstagram Connect with our Managing Board Member, Christoph Zindel: LinkedIn