Fraunhofer Institute for Computer Graphics Research IGDConclusion of the Fraunhofer Flagship Project MED²ICIN
Digital patient model reduces costs and supports personalized treatment
New perspectives for the healthcare industry: Due to demographic change and the severe shortage of skilled professionals, an effective containment of healthcare expenditures is urgently needed. Together with six other Fraunhofer Institutes, Fraunhofer IGD therefore developed a digital twin. It supports physicians in defining the best possible and most cost-efficient treatment. In addition to selecting an optimal therapy, the solution also reduces treatment time and costs.
Users of the digital patient model can access AI-based analyses, for example of medical specialist publications, and view treatment guidelines as well as the costs associated with different treatment options. In the cohort module, individual patient information is related to data from similar disease progressions—enabling healthcare professionals to identify which therapies work best in which cases. All information is presented in a clear and structured dashboard.
Decision model proves convincing in practical testing
An online survey of nearly 50 gastroenterologists who tested the web-based system in hospitals and medical practices in advance shows that the patient model meets its defined goals. While 23 percent praised the cost savings, 35 percent of respondents highlighted the reduced treatment time made possible by the model. So far, the system has been used in prototype form using chronic inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) as an example. In the future, the digital patient model is intended to be applied to additional diseases across all medical specialties.
The project partners will present how the data model works in detail—with its interactive dashboard and individual modules—on July 17 at the Campus Westend of Goethe University Frankfurt. Interested parties from clinical and industrial environments, medical technology, health IT, and the pharmaceutical industry are warmly invited to attend. Participation is free of charge.