As part of Healthcare Purchasing News’ ongoing editorial coverage, I had the opportunity to attend this year’s MEDICA 2017 conference, November 13-16, at the massive Messe Dusseldorf complex in Dusseldorf, Germany The meeting is unique as compared to most healthcare conferences in the U.S. that tend to focus on one medical discipline such as infection prevention, or surgical services. MEDICA is Disneyland for healthcare product “foodies,” covering almost every product used in healthcare facilities, with sources from all over the world.
The latest technology on display came from over 5,100 global sources, including 520 U.S. exhibitors. Examples of technology displayed included: 50 cent piece sized holter monitors, 3D ultrasound with face review abilities and robotic arms programmed to help patients regain their strength by exercising limbs.
I thank my hosts at Messe Dusseldorf, including Joachim Schäfer, Managing Director of MEDICA, whose vision has helped grow the focus and scope of the forum’s education programs. The education programs focused on solutions that have the potential to deliver value at reduced costs in care facilities, a concern echoed from everyone I spoke with, regardless of what country they were from.
This year’s focus on digitalization included all aspects of supply with ‘artificial intelligence,’ dominating the technical discussions, and more health applications for smartphones, PCs and ‘wearables’.
Holter Recorder, (middle) Kuka robotics (bottom)
For the 6th time, MEDICA 2017 saw the world’s largest live competition for the best App-based Medical Mobile Solution for use in the daily routine of a patient, a doctor or in the hospital. The MEDICA App COMPETITION 2017 was part of the MEDICA CONNECTED HEALTHCARE FORUM on Wednesday, November 15, 2017.
Developers from all over the world submitted their App-based Medical Mobile Solutions. Only 15 submissions were selected by the judges for the final judging round, which included a live app pitch at MEDICA. The pitch itself happened live on stage. Each developer spokesperson had 3 minutes to pitch their App-based Medical Mobile Solution. Another 2 minutes were reserved for the jury to place questions. After all of the 15 competitors finished their presentations, the jury deliberated and selected the winner.
First Place: iSikCure seeks to pave the way to the healthcare system, specifically in Africa. “Although the Internet of Things is the current trending topic in the four corners of the globe, we are more focused on the Internet of People,” said Dr. Moka Lantum, Co-Founder of MicroClinic Technologies from Kenya. The aim of this app is to get lifesaving medication to the places that need them most. Dr. Lantum explained that people in most African countries pay for their healthcare in cash. Twenty percent of households have no access to medicine or a doctor and iSikCure wants to change this. Users pre-pay participating providers by one of six ways: cash, mobile money, credit card, insurance, self-help group wallet, and MedCoins earned by adhering to treatment. Users are guaranteed better prices, quality, and convenience, and liken iSikCure to LinkedIn for checking out a doctor. iSikCure uses LinkedIn to find a doctor, TripAdvisor for scheduling and Amazon to purchase medical products. Visit www.facebook.com/iSikCure/.
Second Place: The Air Smart Spirometer from NuvoAir, measures your lung capacity and shares the results with your physician. It monitors how your lung health develops over time and is linked with a smartphone. The users can measure their lung capacity on their own. Max Ladow, Product Manager, explained: “A spirometer test such as this one takes less than 30 seconds and means that lung function can be measured at home. The data can be shared with a doctor at the push of a button.” Visit www.nuvoair.com.
Third Place: Kaia, an application from Munich (Germany), is the first holistic digital back pain therapy with a personalized mind-body program. It enables individuals to train flexibly and efficiently only 15 minutes per day with multimodal exercises, reducing their pain in a natural way without drugs or unnecessary procedures.
Maximilian Wühr, Head of Business Development at Kaia, remarked that patients frequently have to wait for traditional multidisciplinary therapy consisting of a couple of weekly sessions for a few hours each time. Kaia is a cheaper therapy that can begin right away and takes less than 15 minutes per day. Due to artificial intelligence, Kaia will soon support users in performing their exercises and help them to avoid potential errors while doing the exercises. Kaia is already available in computer format and should soon be available as an app. Mobility exercises reinforce the stabilizer muscles, stretching exercises help release tension and remove stress. Empowering the patient to manage his own health has fast and profound results. A retrospective study shows an average reduction of pain levels by 43 percent within the first 20 days. Visit www.kaia-health.com.
The first place winner received Euro 2,000, second place Euro 1,000 and third place Euro 500. However, the opportunity to present their ideas to a large international professional audience at MEDICA 2017 was the most important element for all participants.
Kristine Russell | Publisher Emeritus
Kristine Russell is Publisher/Executive Editor, Retired
Healthcare Purchasing News, EVP, Healthcare Division, Endeavor Business Media LLC.
