The Belgian federal government has allocated 20 million euros for the Data Capabilities call for projects. Out of the 15 projects, our DPI4INAH project (submitted togheter with the MOVE network, Solstisse and DNAlytics) was selected. Its objective is to extract Oncology, Vaccination, and Allergy information from Electronic Health Records (EHR) in hospitals within the MOVE network. The Data Capabilities call for projects aims to enhance healthcare by improving the interoperability of hospital data through data exchange in FHIR format.

Effixis, a trusted partner for hospitals in Belgium and Switzerland, is responsible for the data extraction segment of the DPI4INAH project. We achieve this by implementing state-of-the-art NLP models and collaborating closely with medical experts to ensure the development of reliable and accurate models. This project exemplifies Effixis’ dedication to innovation and its commitment to enhancing public health.

Under the coordination of the FPS Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment (Federal Public Service), the Belgian government has allocated a budget of 20 million euros for the Data Capabilities call for projects (more information can be found here), including the DPI4INAH project. This funding demonstrates the government’s strong support for improving healthcare through the exploitation and generation of insightful patient data, with a specific objective of increasing the interoperability of hospital data. This is primarily to be achieved through the exchange of data in the FHIR (Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources) format.

FHIR, pronounced ‘fire,’ is a standard comprising a set of rules and specifications designed for the exchange of electronic healthcare data. Its design is notably flexible and adaptable, allowing for its use across various settings and with diverse healthcare information systems.

The DPI4INAH project primarily aims to enhance the extraction of EHR and SUMEHR (Summarized EHR) data via Natural Language Processing (NLP) techniques, codification in SNOMED-CT (a medical standard), and standardization (OMOP databases and FHIR format) for the data exchange of Oncology, Vaccination, and Allergies CareSets. In other words, the project seeks to transform unstructured text data, stored in hospitals, into meaningful, actionable, and interoperable information. By participating in this project, Effixis reinforces its commitment to advancing healthcare through digital innovation, contributing to a future where data-driven healthcare solutions lead to better patient care. The EHR data will be provided by the hospitals of the MOVE network: Groupe Santé CHC, St. Nikolaus Hospital, and Klinik St. Josef. The SUMEHR data will be provided by the Réseau Santé Wallon.”

The DPI4INAH project will also utilize the existing INAH platform for use case testing. The INAH platform, currently managed by CETIC in Wallonia, is designed for secure and ethical access to medical data. This platform enables multicentric analysis, which means that the analysis is conducted simultaneously across multiple medical centers, for research purposes. By using data to stimulate healthcare innovation, efficient public health policies, and business opportunities in the health sector, the INAH platform represents an important paradigm for the future of healthcare.

This collaborative effort brings together multiple stakeholders, including the MOVE network (which comprises three Belgian hospitals: Groupe Santé CHC, St. Nikolaus Hospital, Klinik St. Josef), Réseau Santé Wallon, FRATEM, INAH, DNAnalytics, Solstisse, and the FPS Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment.

Contact

For more information about Effixis and our role in this transformative project, please contact us at contact@effixis.be . Stay updated with our journey in revolutionizing healthcare through digital innovation.

Useful links

[1] https://www.health.belgium.be/nl/node/44437
[2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2VVAbkUf5M&t=4060s
[3] https://build.fhir.org/index.html
[4] https://www.cetic.be/INAH-en
[5] https://brusselshealthnetwork.be/en/health-professionals/i-am-enquiring/my-patients-health-records/the-sumehr/
[6] https://www.reseausantewallon.be/