Changing the patient's healthcare journey

This new form of collaboration has led to a new way of addressing healthcare challenges – for both the hospital and the company. Boston Scientific has traditionally focused on manufacturing medical devices such as stents, pacemakers and endoscopes. As a result of the partnership and joint development initiatives, the company has begun to redirect its organization toward also producing value in health care.

Usually when we work with a hospital we develop a product, but that is not what the innovation partnership with Karolinska is all about.

This is the view of Nick Wilson, Director of Strategy and Marketing for Global Healthcare Solutions at Boston Scientific.

Model for completely new practices

Karolinska and Boston Scientific are currently developing new models of care in three areas: Heart failure, severe asthma and ERCP (a surgical technique that does not involve incisions). A new model for a patient group, such as heart failure patients, could then be further developed and used for other patient groups with severe chronic disease.

Gathers caregivers around the patient

– One aspect involves changing the patient's healthcare journey. But we must also change our compensation models and the way we interact as caregivers around shared patients, says Nina Lahti, Innovation Program Manager.

Cardiac ambulatory care to benefit children with cancer

Efforts to optimize the care of patients with heart failure have generated many tangible improvements. One example is the new ambulatory care ward, Cardiac Ambulatory Care, which provides patients with more accessible care while easing the burden on services such as the emergency clinic. This has proven to be a successful solution and the Cardiac Ambulatory Care ward now serves as a model for another new ambulatory care ward for children with cancer at the Astrid Lindgren Children's Hospital.

Better treatment for severe asthma

Patients with severe asthma may also benefit from the experience of the Cardiac Ambulatory Care service. The vision is for a Center of Excellence, since severe asthma is an area in great need of development of more innovative diagnostic and treatment methods.

Disseminating innovative methods

In the field of ERCP, telemedicine is used to spread innovative practices. The goal is to develop collaboration with local hospitals that will receive guidance through videos made by Karolinska Institutet specialists, as well as support to establish procedures and appropriate remuneration models.

• Read more about ERCP – surgeons guide other surgeons via video

Innovation partnership with Boston Scientific

What? Develops new models of care that support the transition from volume-based to value-based care in heart failure, ERCP and severe asthma.

When? 214-216, in conjunction with procurement of medical technology for the new hospital building in Solna. Read more about the innovation partnership linked with procurement here.

Services at Karolinska: Department of Cardiology, Emergency Department, Geriatrics, Gastro Center, Oncology Department, Thoracic Surgery Department.

Coordinator at the Center for Innovation: Nina Lahti