Carsten Danzer is a salutonaut and runs an EHR not only for himself, but also for his kids. Find out about his views on human-centric digitalization in Swiss healthcare system in our interview:
💡 What inspired you the most so far and convinced you to recommend taking part in the expedition to the health data room ?
My recommendation: Get involved – the future of our health data belongs to all of us!
I am convinced that everyone should have the opportunity to own and manage their own health data. We already carry the majority of our health-related data – the data from our mostly healthy everyday lives – with us: on our smartphones, collected by smartwatches, loyalty cards (e.g. CUMULUS) and other sources. However, our health data often remains locked away in decentralized systems to which we as individuals have little or no access.
I am particularly enthusiastic about the expedition because it creates a community of like-minded people who are working to make this data accessible and useful. We are relying on both technical solutions and human input – supported by committed players from the Swiss healthcare system.
The electronic patient record (EPR) is often criticized as a “data coffin” – an empty vessel with no added value. The expedition gives us the opportunity to learn how we can turn the coffin into a lifeline to generate real added value for society. Because only through use, collaboration and continuous development can we realize the full potential of our health data.
💡 What problem or challenge have you noticed so far during the expedition that makes you think: ‘This can’t be allowed to continue’?
My conviction: We urgently need to find ways to make access to health data simpler, safer and more comprehensive – for us and the next generation!
Even if I manage to identify the responsible healthcare provider, it is almost always a hassle to get my own data. I see several reasons for this: Searching out data takes time, this work is not billable, and handing it over could reveal potential errors – with possible legal consequences for the healthcare provider.
In a world that is almost fully digitized and supported by AI, it is incomprehensible to me that I still have to chase after my digitized medical documents by hand – even though they could be clearly assigned via my AHV number.
I am particularly critical of the situation with my children. As “digital natives”, they should have the opportunity to receive the best possible treatment thanks to their health data. But in practice, often only final reports end up in the electronic patient record (EPR). It’s like reading the blurb of a book and claiming to know the whole story.
💡Based on your previous experience: Where would you specifically start to advance human-centric digitalization in the healthcare sector?
My proposal: The reimbursement of healthcare services should be linked to the complete and structured recording of the relevant data in the electronic patient record (EPR). Even small incentives – such as a delay in payment in the absence of documentation – could trigger change.
In my years with digitalization in healthcare, I have recognized a clear pattern: Where financial incentives exist, data is not only available, but often structured – because this facilitates billing and can maximize profits. Digitization is often seen as a lever for cost efficiency, but implementation is often not patient-centric.
The incentives are currently set completely wrong: The scanning of documents – a manual, non-value-adding process – is billed via the TARMED tariff and declared as “outpatient medical treatment” in the billing. At the same time, the provision of structured, reusable information remains virtually unremunerated.
➡️ The question is: shouldn’t remuneration be more closely linked to sustainable added value for patients instead of processes that hardly bring any progress?
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