In 2023, the digitization of Romanian hospitals received a boost through the funding programs announced by the Ministry of Health. August brought the opening of several funding lines associated with the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), with 400 million euros available for the development of the digital system of the National Health Insurance House (CNAS) and the digitalization of at least 200 hospitals. Additionally, with the assistance of the World Bank, the Ministry will equip approximately 130 Emergency Departments in county, municipal, and town hospitals with modern telemedicine solutions.

From Datanet Systems’ perspective, the IT architecture of a modern hospital should consider the following areas: telemedicine and video collaboration, video surveillance, IT infrastructure, and cybersecurity. Each of these plays an essential role in creating a modern and efficient working environment and providing quality services to patients.

 

Telemedicine and Video Collaboration

 

Telemedicine has become a central element of healthcare digitization, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. This direction focused on technologies that enable medical consultations and collaboration among healthcare professionals, regardless of their physical location. A telemedicine system allows for remote consultations, rapid access to a second opinion, collaboration among healthcare professionals within interdisciplinary groups, and many more.

In 2020, Datanet Systems designed and delivered a comprehensive video collaboration solution for the Oncology Department of Timișoara Municipal Hospital. This solution seamlessly integrated Cisco video terminals and the Webex platform. The Cisco desktop monitors provided a user-friendly and efficient experience, far more intuitive than traditional PCs. They came equipped with high-quality webcams and microphones, ensuring top-notch video and audio quality.

The Cisco Webex platform’s functionalities made it possible for the multidisciplinary team to conduct meetings effectively. During the pandemic, the system allowed access to the meeting agenda with attendance indicators for each member, virtual discussion rooms for both group and one-on-one conversations, chat windows, and the ability to share information seamlessly. Additionally, this solution was accessible to the team members and external users. Any invited participant could join using a unique code on a PC, mobile phone, or tablet. They could access it directly from a web browser or by installing the dedicated Webex client.

 

Video-Surveillance

 

Video surveillance has also become an essential component in healthcare systems, improving patient monitoring and ensuring security within medical facilities. Video surveillance systems installed in hospital rooms enable medical staff to monitor patients in real time directly from the control room. Furthermore, by integrating with specific medical equipment, the system captures and displays patients’ vital signs on the control room monitors. This allows medical staff to intervene only when necessary, reducing the risk of unexpected incidents and enabling quick responses in emergency situations. Additionally, video cameras installed in patient rooms allow families to visit patients online through a secure portal.

For Marie Curie Hospital, located in Bucharest, Datanet Systems has developed a complex telemedicine system, which also integrates video surveillance components. In this setup, every patient room is equipped with audio-video monitoring, providing the medical staff with real-time audio and video feeds from mobile surveillance cameras. These cameras are outfitted with motion sensors and optimized for night-time recording. The high-definition audio and visuals they capture are securely stored within the system. Users have the flexibility to access live or stored images at any time from either a control room or mobile terminals, such as smartphones and tablets, using encrypted connections. This ensures that medical personnel can access critical information and patient monitoring data from virtually anywhere.

 

IT Infrastructure and Cybersecurity

 

To ensure the seamless operation and security of telemedicine and video surveillance systems, hospitals require a robust IT infrastructure. To this end, Datanet Systems recommends the development of professionally designed data rooms that host all servers, storage, and network equipment that provides a high level of redundancy. The system should also include long-term backup and archiving solutions in compliance with current legislation and GDPR requirements. In addition, the creation of separate network layers for data (LAN and WiFi) is essential for the telemedicine system, medical equipment, and users. This can be achieved with a solution like Cisco SDA, allowing network segmentation and the isolation of sensitive patient data and medical devices from the rest of the IT infrastructure. This comprehensive approach not only ensures the high performance of these systems but also safeguards patient data and the hospital’s digital infrastructure from cybersecurity threats.

In terms of cybersecurity, Datanet Systems recommends an advanced architecture that combines Firewall and Intrusion Detection/Prevention System (IDS/IPS) to monitor traffic, detect suspicious activities, and block potential threats. Access control and authentication, including the use of multi-factor authentication (MFA) and detailed access management to systems/solutions, are also necessary solutions.

Last but not least, hospitals should not overlook endpoint protection for all types of devices, including those used in BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) scenarios and medical equipment.

However, even with all these technical measures in place, a cybersecurity plan is not truly effective if it doesn’t include establishing strict rules and cybersecurity hygiene programs for medical personnel. It’s essential to educate staff to recognize phishing traps and other malicious messages to prevent security breaches.

 

Challenges in Hospital Digitalization Projects

 

While funding through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) can address some of the financial challenges in hospital digitalization projects, technical challenges persist. Digitalizing a hospital is inherently complex because it involves integrating multiple solutions and systems. Most hospitals in Romania lack their own IT teams, and the technologies they use are often diverse. Furthermore, the critical working environment of hospitals, such as intensive care units, delivery rooms, and neonatology units, cannot tolerate disruptions in system functionality. As a result, the challenges primarily revolve around:

• Translating the requirements from medical staff into practical functionalities in the digitalization solutions.
• Achieving interoperability between the various integrated technologies in the projects.
• Adhering to current data protection regulations for safeguarding confidential data.
• Establishing a flexible and long-term security architecture, considering the dynamic evolution of cybersecurity threats.
• Training medical personnel to effectively use these systems.

Through digitalization projects implemented in multiple Romanian hospitals, Datanet Systems has proven its ability to combine business knowledge (understanding best practices in the medical field) with technological expertise (creating advanced network and security architectures).

For more information about the hospital digitalization solutions in Datanet Systems’ portfolio, please contact us at sales@datanets.ro.