So far, the focus in the partnership has been on getting the new imaging equipment into place and developing first innovations. As a next step, the third and final pillar of the partnership is to drive continuous improvement in day-to-day processes within the imaging function.
For Juhana Hakumäki, head of the imaging function, this is all about rethinking ways of working within Karolinska’s new operating model. “To meet the demand for imaging and physiology services, we need to work in clever ways, providing the best possible value with every examination. This comes down to everyday decisions: how we use our equipment, how we examine patients, how we organize the follow-up within a patient care flow.”
Hakumäki believes that these decisions will become increasingly data-driven. “For example, we want to get the most out of our equipment park by analyzing utilization rates of different types of equipment. And if we follow patient outcomes over time, throughout a patient care flow, we can use that knowledge to determine the best possible examination for every patient.”