Editorial Team Startup PFR.
What are the most important innovations that have been implemented at the Institute of Mother and Child in recent years? Can you share a few examples?
An example of such a solution at the administrative level was the creation of the Department of Artificial Intelligence and Innovation in Medical Technologies. Its main goal at the Institute of Mother and Child is to coordinate activities in the field of modern medical technologies and process solutions, cooperate with business and implement joint projects. The unit provides support for medical specialists who, when coming up with their own idea, receive the support of a team that knows and understands the medical innovation industry.
The department is also the initiator of the Mother and Child Startup Challenge . Thanks to it, we discover startups that have a chance to significantly influence healthcare. In this way, we established cooperation with, among others, the winner of the first edition of the competition – the company MedApp. The three-dimensional technology of visualizing medical images CarnaLife Holo is used, among others, during complex surgeries.
At IMiD, we focus on using modern technologies to improve the work of medical staff and the comfort of our patients. As part of a project financed by Norwegian funds – HaloMamo – we tested home telemonitoring of pregnant patients.
What role does cooperation with startups play in the development of the Institute of Mother and Child? What are the benefits of this cooperation?
Non-standard solutions, the use of tools such as AI, VR or IoT, are the future not only of hospitals. As OZ, we cannot lag behind. We are looking for companies that are able to respond to our needs, but we are also open to the ideas of startups that come to us with their solutions. The Mother and Child Startup Challenge competition is precisely such an opening to external proposals. In this way, we create a dynamic and sustainable environment for the development of medical innovations.
What conditions must startups meet to be able to start cooperation with the Institute of Mother and Child? What support can they count on from the institute?
We invite representatives of innovative projects to contact the Department of Artificial Intelligence and Medical Technology Innovation directly . Discussions about potential implementation depend on the level of advancement of the project and its profile. The team is responsible for providing support in contact with potential recipients at the Institute, mapping needs and verifying possibilities and type of cooperation.
What challenges have you encountered when implementing technological innovations in a public hospital?
Each facility will have its own specific path to dealing with the introduction of innovation. Certainly, one of the most important challenges is the formation of project teams and the preparation of infrastructure. Also important is the allocation of funds for the new project and legal issues.
We must also remember that the medical industry is heavily regulated, and the well-being of the patient is always our priority. Sometimes it turns out that a project that looked good in the assumptions does not meet the expectations placed in it. In such situations, an objective approach to cooperation and further steps is necessary.
How are innovative projects selected for implementation? Is there a dedicated team responsible for evaluating new solutions?
The implementation path consists of several stages. At the beginning, there is an initial introductory meeting with a representative of the project or company, during which detailed information about the offered innovation is presented.
Then, the team of the Department of Artificial Intelligence and Medical Technology Innovations conducts an internal evaluation of the project. Factors taken into account include the stage of development, issues related to the method of financing, confirmation of the solution’s effectiveness in clinical trials, certificates held, sensitivity and specificity. The team also checks whether a given solution can be implemented at the Institute and in which unit it would work best. In the next step, the Team verifies its analyses with the target recipients of the innovation – most often departments, clinics or facilities at the Institute. The next step is to sign appropriate agreements with the Institute, i.e. a cooperation agreement, an NDA agreement, a data transfer agreement and a data processing entrustment agreement (GDPR).
As a rule, an innovative project is initially subject to a free pilot in a given unit or units of the Institute. Depending on the project and arrangements, the pilot may last from 1 to 6 months. After the pilot, the process of evaluating the implementation of the solution begins based on specific indicators. This involves conducting a survey and receiving feedback from specialists using the innovation, as well as evaluating the collected data. Examples of evaluation indicators include the degree of satisfaction of specialists or the number of tests performed. After analyzing the data, a decision is made on the possibility of implementing the solution permanently and negotiating the terms of further cooperation.
In the event of a positive decision to permanently implement the solution, steps are taken to establish financing. Depending on the project, financing may be through statutory funds, grants and other forms of external funding. To start cooperation, please contact the Department of Artificial Intelligence and Medical Technology Innovation: dzial.ai@imid.med.pl .
What are the challenges associated with implementing innovations in the Polish healthcare system? Do you see opportunities for improvement in this area?
Let’s remember that the Polish healthcare system is very complex and diverse. In order to create hospitals of the future, we must focus on several factors: improving clinical work, reducing the time spent on administrative activities, and improving patient comfort and safety. More and more hospitals are seeing the benefits of implementing innovative technologies, but we cannot introduce these changes drastically. A much better method is the method of small steps, sharing experiences, observing solutions that are already working in other facilities and adapting them to our needs.
One of the key challenges that OZ facilities face is the introduction of effective change management. It is not easy to convince employees to try a new method if it is imposed from above and the current one works “reasonably well”. There is a need for conversation, inclusion in the assessment process, and appreciation of their involvement. The employees’ approach to innovation largely depends on whether they need change.
The moment we realize that we all care about the patient’s well-being, their health and life, we find common ground and dialogue becomes easier. It is essential because implementing innovations is based on the cooperation of many departments, the exchange of information and experiences.
What are the long-term goals of the Institute of Mother and Child in the context of implementing technological innovations?
The aforementioned Department of Artificial Intelligence and Medical Technology Innovation is a major change on a national scale. The hospital is no longer just a place to treat patients, but is also becoming an incubator of ideas. We will want to continue integrating specialists from various fields and strengthening the involvement of medical professionals in the process of creating innovative solutions.
How do you assess the results of the Mother and Child Startup Challenge? Have you already implemented any of the solutions proposed by the competition participants?
The competition shows the enormous potential of creativity and entrepreneurship that lies dormant in innovators. Thanks to the Mother and Child Startup Challenge, the activities of the community of experts, medical facilities and startups have been strengthened, creating an inspiring ecosystem. The third edition of the competition is currently underway, the results of which will be announced at the end of November.
So far, at the Institute we have tested the projects of the winners of the 1st Edition: Infermedica – a home sypthom checker for patients and MedApp – a virtual reality system for medical professionals. We are also in the process of processing cooperation with the winners of the 2nd Edition – Laserobaria 2.0, Truscreen, Calmsie and Clebre.
Thank you for the interview.
The interview was created as part of the Healthcare Investment Hub, which engages specialized European VC funds and supports healthcare startups seeking investment. The organizers of HIH are the Polish Development Fund and PFR Ventures. One of the event’s partners is the Mother and Child Startup Challenge.