Berlin, 16.03.2022 – To offer hospitals insights into individual treatments and patients’ quality of life via a digital patient portal, Doctolib and Heartbeat Medical are cooperating under the Hospital Future Act.
Digital patient portals enable closer patient communication and improved admission, treatment, and discharge management. The continuous recording of patient-reported outcomes (PROs) provides medical staff with a holistic basis for decision-making alongside patient participation throughout the treatment pathway.
Within the framework of the partnership, Doctolib and Heartbeat Medical combine their expertise and offer hospitals the possibility of a holistic and outcome-oriented patient portal. Patient-Reported Outcomes and quality of life data are continuously collected and integrated into the hospital information system via the heartbeat ONE platform, a registered medical device. Additionally, disease-specific questionnaires, satisfaction assessments and comprehensive clinical documentation can be systematically incorporated into use.
Via the “Doctolib Hospital” software solution, doctors in primary care can seamlessly arrange appointments at the hospital upon the request of their patients in the region. Prior to admission to hospital, patients can be sent an invitation to participate in the collection of PROs based on the reason for their inpatient stay. When patients are discharged, the software solution then connects hospitals with suitable doctors or therapists in primary care to book follow-up appointments. All necessary documents can be securely shared between the hospital and the referring physician. In this way, time-consuming administrative tasks can be reduced and a holistic orientation towards treatment benefits according to value-based healthcare becomes possible.
Doctolib and Heartbeat Medical’s cooperation aligns with the requirements set out by the German Hospital Future Act for patient portals, as well as several optional criteria. In addition to resource planning as well as admission, treatment and discharge management, decision support based on patient-reported outcome measures is provided. In this way, post-stay complications can be detected early, and therapeutic pathways can be discussed and adjusted in a timely manner.
Dr. med. Ilias Tsimpoulis, PhD, Managing Director of Doctolib Germany, further emphasizes the importance of synergies. “For German hospitals, the funding from the Hospital Future Act is a great opportunity to invest in a future-proof digital infrastructure. The synergy effects that arise through cooperative partnerships are an important component for the positive development of the investment program. Together with Heartbeat Medical, we want to set an example and support the implementation of digital measures in the best way possible.”
“Patient-Reported Outcome Measures enable better treatments and are increasingly relevant for reimbursement in the German healthcare system,” comments Yannik Schreckenberger, Managing Director of Heartbeat Medical. “As the voice of patients, it is the logical next step to integrate PROs into patient portals. Together with Doctolib, we are pleased to offer high-quality PRO measurement across departmental lines for hospitals.”