Technology has become a fundamental ally for the health sector, allowing not only to improve the quality of medical care, but also to optimize the health system and, above all, improve the lives of patients. Tools such as video consultations, chats, digital applications, wearables and the Internet of Things (IoT) facilitate access and sharing of medical resources more efficiently.
Furthermore, technological advances have enabled a more preventive approach in medicine, reducing the incidence of diseases and enabling more accurate diagnoses and earlier, more personalized interventions.
“Digital solutions allow real-time monitoring of patients, which translates into more inclusive and effective care. In this way, digitalization contributes to humanizing medicine, adapting to the needs of each person and making them feel increasingly connected to their own health. For this reason, we are committed to innovation through the development of more personalized digital products and services adapted to the needs of the future, with the aim of transforming the way in which diseases are diagnosed, monitored and treated,” says José Luis Ruiz, CIO of Sanitas and Bupa ELA.
Technology in the health sector
In this context, Sanitas operates as a digital health innovation hub for Bupa and Bupa ELA, adapting and implementing the solutions it designs in Madrid to the rest of the international markets in which it operates. “All the digital developments that we apply and are working on transcend financial environments and pure business development, since they are directly linked to the application of technology in health management,” explains Ruiz.
From this perspective, the Sanitas IT team highlights a series of key technologies that are revolutionizing the health sector and the management of its companies:
- Telemedicine: Thanks to this, patients can access medical consultations from the comfort of their home, avoiding unnecessary travel and receiving care in real time. At Sanitas, through the Blua digital insurance, which is now accessible to all its policyholders, patients can make video consultations, monitor their health, access their medical records and communicate directly with their doctors, among other functions.
Digital solutions enable real-time monitoring of patients, resulting in more inclusive and effective care
- Cybersecurity: Healthcare companies, which work with highly sensitive information, must ensure that the data is properly protected. Therefore, it is necessary to implement a comprehensive cybersecurity system to protect this information. With the increase in digital threats, such as cyberattacks, phishing or ransomware, it is essential to have advanced technologies that ensure the encryption of information, monitor possible vulnerabilities and offer a rapid response to any attempted breach of systems.
- Cloud: The use of the cloud is beneficial as it facilitates the management of large volumes of medical data, allowing its secure storage, access and analysis. Furthermore, another of the advantages of this technology is the reduction of the environmental impact by eliminating physical supports and avoiding trips to medical centers. A good example of this is the digitization of access to diagnostic imaging tests carried out by Sanitas. Thanks to the use of cloud technologies, its policyholders, instead of receiving their x-ray, ultrasound, MRI or CT scan on paper or CD, do so through the app, thus avoiding more than 300 tons of CO2.
- Artificial intelligence: AI is transforming medical diagnosis because it identifies diseases in early stages, improves the precision of treatments and optimizes response times. In this context and for years, Sanitas has had SanIA, an artificial intelligence that is capable of interacting, autonomously, with customers through any channel, which has made it possible to enhance Appointment Management and boost the patient experience. by making more agile use of agencies. It is worth mentioning that this brings with it a double benefit: patients have access to a better service and subsequent follow-up, while medical professionals have support for their work, which also makes it easier for them to manage their own patients on a daily basis.