The pioneering French organisation, Mécénat Chirurgie Cardiaque performs life-saving cardiac surgeries for children with severe heart conditions who cannot access necessary medical care in their home countries. They have introduced a ground-breaking initiative that utilises 3D modelling technology to enhance diagnosis and treatment planning. Heart scans of children with rare and complex heart diseases are transformed into precise digital representations. These models enable cardiologists in France to collaborate with doctors in underprivileged African countries, facilitating accurate diagnoses and identifying children who need surgery to dramatically improve their chance of survival and quality of life.
Boston Scientific Foundation Europe is unlocking health care access with digital innovation
Aug 28, 2024
Amidst the societal digitisation of the past decade, digital health solutions have emerged as powerful tools to bridge gaps in healthcare access, highlighting the importance of making these programmes universally accessible. By understanding the unique needs of underserved communities, the non-profit sector is perfectly placed to identify the programmes needed to reach populations regardless of their economic or geographic circumstances. Boston Scientific Foundation Europe (BSFE) is supporting such innovative projects that are transforming patient outcomes across the globe.
"Driving impact is central to our mission. Digital health opens new possibilities for how patients and care providers connect and facilitates access to quality health care for all," said Simonetta Balbi, president, Boston Scientific Foundation Europe. “With BSFE support, we are enabling non-profits to kickstart digital innovation approaches that can meet this need and create a positive impact.”
Enhancing diagnostic accuracy with digital tools
In low-resource and remote settings, challenges of limited healthcare workers and access to health care are increased. Digital health solutions are improving access to diagnosis, from urban areas in Europe to rural regions in Africa.
Mécénat Chirurgie Cardiaque 3D modelling technology facilitates accurate diagnoses across Africa
While Mécénat Chirurgie Cardiaque has an international focus, there are also organisations creating local initiatives to support patients closer to home. In Italy's Lombardy region, the Italian League for the Fight against Tumours (LILT) has embarked on a digital transformation journey to enhance cancer screening services. The region, which has the highest number of cancer patients in Italy, faced exacerbated challenges due to delayed diagnoses during the COVID-19 pandemic. With support from BSFE, LILT has digitally transformed its “LILT Mobile Truck” initiative, bringing critical cancer screening services to local marginalised areas. The new medical software has enhanced clinical reporting, ensuring data security, traceability, and comprehensive statistical analysis. This digital upgrade has expanded the scope of screening options available to underserved populations, optimising resources and significantly improving service quality in order to expedite diagnoses and improve outcomes for patients.
By leveraging digital technology, these innovations break down geographical and economic barriers, ensuring that even the most remote or marginalised populations receive timely and effective healthcare.
Digital programmes extending beyond digitalisation
Terre des Hommes consultation in Guinea using "She Decides" Electronic Maternity Register
A digital programme can also be the stepping stone to systemic change. Women’s health is a critical area where digital solutions have proven to make a significant impact. In Guinea, Terre des Hommes, a Swiss-based non-profit, has introduced the "She Decides" Electronic Maternity Consultation Register. This digital innovation includes detailed medical histories, but also provides and prompts comprehensive healthcare protocols that equip health workers with essential information and guidance to deliver the best possible care, from prenatal to postnatal stages of maternal care.
"She Decides" goes beyond a tablet-based consultation system; it embodies a broader effort to promote women's sexual and reproductive rights while combating gender-based violence, not only improving individual health outcomes but fostering a more equitable healthcare system where every woman can have access to the medical care they need.
How BSFE is boosting non-profit innovation
At its heart, BSFE’s mission is to enable non-profits to harness the power of digital innovation to improve healthcare outcomes. By funding projects like those championed by Mécénat Chirurgie Cardiaque, LILT, and Terre des Hommes, they are elevating the innovators, helping non-profit organisations to break down the barriers of circumstance and improve well-being for all.
Read more about BSFE’s impact in the Annual Report 2023.
About the Boston Scientific Foundation Europe
Boston Scientific Foundation Europe is a non-profit organisation that supports well-being through digital solutions. Addressing issues of public interest, the Foundation funds initiatives from European non-profit organisations that help prevent or manage diseases. Established in 2018, BSFE is headquartered in France and funded solely by Boston Scientific. For more information, visit www.bostonscientific.eu/foundation, LinkedIn, or Facebook.