Hamburg Eppendorf University Hospital (UKE) is considered the first fully digital hospital in Europe. By introducing a closed-loop medication process, UKE reduced the medication deviation rate from 21.5% to 0.7%[1]. Cambridge University Hospital A similar story was reported: the automatic warning system prevents 850 serious allergic side effects each year. As a result, 16% of drug prescriptions were adjusted.

In both cases, the hospital is guided by the roadmap of the HIMSS EMRAM digital maturity model. HIMSS, owner Healthcare IT News, Has evaluated more than 550 hospitals in Germany and 65,000 medical institutions worldwide. These institutions now use consensus on digital maturity to share best practices regarding digital processes, user engagement, and patient care. Germany may be in a good position to benefit from their learning and apply some strategies and concepts from large projects in Europe, the UK, Turkey, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Australia or the United States.

I think the first thing to consider is the scope of the assessment itself. It must meet the highest scientific requirements, but at the same time it must provide a practical and balanced approach to the hospital. In other words, the maturity model must not only serve the ambition of a “digital leader”, but it should also allow it to be used in a pragmatic and results-oriented environment in a less digitized, heterogeneous hospital environment. This includes providing a roadmap to enable hospitals to identify areas of action that can increase digital maturity and comply with global best practices.

The evaluation and evaluation of hospitals and other healthcare institutions should go beyond the technical availability of the system to help understand the specific improvements, efficiency, and quality of care for healthcare personnel. This will lead to a real transformation and reform of the sector and bring new opportunities to the country.

Innovation can drive Europe’s recovery

Germany’s digital maturity program goes hand-in-hand with the country’s opening of its national health system to accept innovations at close and long distances. In the next three years, the federal government alone will invest 4 billion euros in the digitalization of hospitals. International standards are being adopted to support interoperability. The new “fast track” approval process makes it easier for start-ups to comply with the evidence requirements of their products.Besides, this is the first step of the law German health insurance will reimburse digital health apps Provide services to its 72,000,000 insured members.

Historically, Germany has been making slow progress in the digitalization of healthcare. The competing interests of stakeholders, privacy issues and the decentralized structure of the system are seen as obstacles that must be overcome first. However, as the federal government launched the country’s first digital health strategy a few weeks before the pandemic, the country has made tremendous progress in adopting and even embracing digital health.

If you have an in-depth understanding of the digital maturity of hospitals, you can now carry out further digital transformation, and this transformation will transcend the hospitalization field and national boundaries. This will close the technological gap with digital leaders in Denmark, the Netherlands, Estonia or Finland. As the continent’s largest economy plays a more productive and active role in shaping a healthy future, Europe can increase its efforts to overcome the burden of the pandemic, which has changed the minds and lives of many people.

Armin Scheuer is the Vice President of International Business Development for HIMSS.

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^{[1] Baehr M, van der Linde A, King R, Melzer S, Langebrake C, Groth Tonberge C, Hug MJ. The combination of electronic regulations and patient-centric logistics-a significant increase in the safety of drug treatment. KHP 35: 110-117 (2014). “Deviation rate” refers to the deviation from specific quality standards in drug management, such as single dose, daily dose, dosage form, moisture resistance, and shelf life.}