‘Technology Is Innovative When It Impacts Clinical Improvement.’

Keeping up with new trends and being able to efficiently use helpful tools are valued skills in the health sector. La Salle-URL’s master’s in eHealth, which has just celebrated its 10th anniversary, is a lever of change specifically designed for health professionals interested in learning how to apply these emerging technologies. And the TIC Salut Social Foundation collaborates in the promotion of this training as a strategy to support the management of health services.

On the occasion of this anniversary, last 14 May we attended a masterclass moderated by Toni Masi, Master’s coordinator and director of digital transformation at the Blood and Tissue Bank. This session was attended by Oriol Estrada, director of innovation at the Germans Trias i Pujol Hospital, and Eva Aurin, the current director of digital transformation at Telefónica, with a long career in the field of technological innovation at the Vall d’Hebron University Hospital.

Aurin pointed out that ‘with an increasingly ageing population, the system takes on a greater burden of chronic diseases and multimorbidity. All this generates excessive expenditure, with the resulting need for professionals as well. In the face of this situation, the solution is to innovate. You need to use technology and think differently to bring real value and solve existing problems.’

The debate, conducted by Masi, revolved around innovation in the health sector. Regarding the view on ‘fashion or permanent strategy’, Oriol Estrada answered: ‘I believe that innovation is not just a fad, but must be a permanent strategy. In a sector as dynamic and full of challenges as health is, innovation is essential. At an institutional level, companies and organisations must believe in innovation in order to survive in a changing environment. In addition, on a personal and professional level, we must have innovative profiles and continuously reinvent ourselves in order to remain relevant.’

At this point, the conversation, moderated by Masi, revolved around the route to implementing technological innovation in the hospitals where they have developed their professional careers:

How did you implement the innovation strategy at the Vall d’Hebron Hospital?

Eva Aurin: At the Vall d’Hebron Hospital, we wanted to get the management involved from the beginning. Without their support, innovation would be unviable. We created a culture of innovation by promoting simple actions, such as innovation contests so that professionals would see they could make small improvements that solved issues. In addition, we offered innovation training to empower people and set up an innovation commission that incorporated different levels of the hospital. Little by little, we expanded our actions. Actions such as innovation week or participation in European projects.

What is your opinion on innovation in the health sector, Oriol?

Oriol Estrada: I believe that innovation must be a long-term strategy. We cannot remain stagnant following traditional practices, especially when the environment is constantly changing. Both at an institutional and at a personal level, we need to have a mindset that is open to innovation and a willingness to adapt to change.

Which technologies are significantly impacting hospitals?

Oriol Estrada: One of the technologies with the most impact for hospitals is virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR). VR allows patients to immerse themselves in virtual environments to reduce anxiety and stress during medical procedures. For example, it is used in blood draws to distract children and make the process less traumatic. It is also used in therapies for phobias, such as the fear of flying or spiders. On the other hand, AR improves the visualisation of complex surgical procedures and medical training, allowing surgeons to practise in virtual environments before performing real interventions.

How is virtual reality used in robotic surgery?

Eva Aurin: In robotic surgery, virtual reality is used to provide an immersive experience for the surgeon. High-quality devices that provide real-time 4K images have been developed. This allows the surgeon to have a detailed and exclusive view of the work area. This technology is critical to the training of new surgeons as it allows them to observe and understand procedures from the perspective of the lead surgeon.

What applications does virtual reality have in medical training?

Oriol Estrada: Virtual reality is used in medical training to provide interactive and realistic experiences. For example, in laparoscopic surgery, there are interactive simulations that allow surgeons to practise complex procedures in a virtual environment before performing them on real patients. Apps are also being developed that allow medical students to explore the human body in 3D, see organ and system models, and learn about anatomy in a more visual and impactful way.

Can you share these experiences with other professionals?

Oriol Estrada: Yes, almost 200 people were connected at the same time during an intervention, which is an achievement that greatly democratises training in robotic surgery. It is usually conducted with one surgeon, one proctor (senior teacher) accompanying the training and one console per student. But this is tricky as you need a robot that costs a fortune and you can only do it in certain places. Thanks to these new technologies, you can do it any time, anywhere. In addition, with the evolution of latency thanks to 5G, we will be able to work remotely.

How do you view the application of artificial intelligence in health?

Eva Aurin: Artificial intelligence has to be used no matter what. It is another tool to help professionals who do not have time. For example, it can help detect patterns and make faster diagnoses, such as lung cancer.