Digital drugs are used to trigger a direct physiological reaction using software-generated medical stimuli alone. This is one of the themes that Flying Health focuses on. Its spin-offs, Dopavision and Neuraltrain, develop digital drugs such as those for short-sightedness and mental health, thus aiming to shape the next generation of healthcare. In addition, Flying Health works on advancing and implementing future-oriented IT strategies in the three clinics of the Schwester Euthymia Stiftung [Sister Euthymia Foundation]. Lina Behrens, Managing Director of Flying Health, will moderate the session which Monika Rimmele, Head of Digital Transformation for Siemens Healthineers, will also take part in.

People make the final decision


“Virtual Triage” will be discussed at 4:00 pm on Monday, November 15. Dr. Dominik von Stillfried, Chairman of the Board for the Central Institute for Healthcare Provided by Statutory Health Insurance (Zi), will give an overview of the current status of their work with SmED (structured medical first assessment in Germany). This is the name of the software which supports medical specialists in assessing acute healthcare issues in telephone centers for the German service number 116117. Software alone does not make the decision on the first assessment. Von Stillfried states: “We ensure that people make the decision.” The people in the telephone centers themselves do not give a diagnosis. Instead, they give advice on how the caller can access the appropriate level of care: Is the patient a real emergency, meaning that they may have to call an ambulance? Or can the patient take a little time and consult their doctor in the next few days?

Findings dating from one and a half years ago are now available: “Two-thirds of the callers fall into the “as quickly as possible” and “within 24 hours” categories”, states von Stillfried, and goes into further detail: “When a call is made, then there is already a certain need for care". Von Stillfried adds that the software recommends consulting a hospital for less than a fifth of the patients. However, most people call at times when an on-call medical service is quickly available, and, in general, a hospital does not have to be consulted. The hotline 116117 will also be completed with a digital self-assessment this year, which is also based on SmED. Some statutory health insurance associations will then start a test run for this.

A hotline with a smart network humming in the background

Those seeking help can call the first assessment software on the 116117 website, get feedback and then decide on whether they need further support or not. If they do, they call 116117 and can then allow the call center worker to view their assessment using a PIN so that they can receive a detailed care offer. SmED is a neural network that offers more than 50 million query options for around one hundred combinable symptoms including in-depth question-answer combinations. Ultimately, all options lead to nine final decisions, which result from a combination of the levels of urgency and the care required. SmED does not use any artificial intelligence in order to draw conclusions from the questions, and it does not, under any circumstances, replace a diagnosis from a doctor. However, if the shortage of doctors continues to increase and good experiences are gained with SmED, it would also be recommended initially as a self-help measure in suitable cases instead of a visit to the doctor.

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