Woman in white lab coat stands in front of a large digital data display, using a tablet.
REFERENCE: CARL ZEISS Meditec AG

Shaping the Digital Transformation of Healthcare

Joint success story with Carl Zeiss Meditec AG – Collaborating in the creation of an industry-leading health data platform supporting an integrated medical ecosystem.

Business context

In the dynamic healthcare market, effective health data management is crucial for enhancing patient care and operational efficiency. However, data fragmentation often hinders actionable insights, challenging providers to address competing priorities with limited resources. In addition, competitive pressure demands greater efficiency and holistic solutions. Digital ecosystems offer a solution by integrating data streams and facilitating secure data sharing among healthcare stakeholders.

Project overview

Our client, Carl Zeiss Meditech AG, a leader in ophthalmology and microsurgery, recognized their customers' needs to generate efficiencies, overcome current limitations and partnered with us to develop an integrated, data-driven medical ecosystem that creates new opportunities for doctors to enhance clinical efficiency, performance and impact for patients in these fields.

Our approach

We collaborated with ZEISS Meditec from concept, to development, implementation and testing of a cloud platform, as well as cloud operations, of an industry-leading health data platform supporting an integrated medical ecosystem. Covering in detail:

  • We worked in close collaboration, in a highly integrated and agile working mode, with the client's teams and other partners, such as Microsoft. Collaborating with the client' business owners on defining the concept, and the innovation development program and relevant associated projects for the development and implementation of a cloud platform and its related components and applications. This included a cross-functional team project set-up using agile methodologies and practices such as SAFe adhering to strict regulations for software development processes defined in the MedTech industry.

  • Our tech experts collaborated with ZEISS Meditec’ team in the evaluation and selection of the technologies and the cloud computing platform Microsoft Azure as well as respective definition of the cloud architecture.

  • Our cybersecurity experts provided consultation on cybersecurity and secure product development processes. Together with ZEISS Meditec's cybersecurity team we applied their cybersecurity and data privacy governance program processes and requirements, from creation of a secure architecture through to development.

  • We consulted on interoperability and medical data standards. Working closely together with the client's team in applying these medical data standards in the creation of the cloud data platform solution that integrates and manages large amounts of data from ZEISS and 3rd party devices and from EMR systems using interoperability standards, such as DICOM and FHIR, for data exchange.

  • Our team collaborated with ZEISS Meditec in the development of a data exchange solution that integrates ZEISS and third-party medical device data (including data from imaging and surgical systems) with the health data platform. Additionally, we worked with the ZEISS Meditec’s team on designing, developing and testing value-adding digital applications, such as ZEISS Collaborative Care. These applications were built integrating data provided by the health data platform as part of the program.

    • We provided comprehensive quality assurance services that adhere to the client's Quality Management processes providing verification documentation according to their Quality Management System (QMS). This support encompassed the development of test strategies, test automation frameworks, and ongoing testing for relevant software. 
    • We created a custom software solution to automate the documentation for the Software Test Procedure, Test Summary and Test Report for the developed software for the client's health data platform. Testing activities were conducted across various software products and components in conjunction with other systems and medical devices at the ZEISS Digital Innovation Test Center. This allowed us to test the data synchronization between the data generated by the medical devices and the cloud platform.
  • Our team provided consultancy and 3rd level support for the operation of the cloud for the client's health data platform. Specifically we advised on the design and implementation of operations and support processes for Azure Cloud operations. We managed the cloud deployments on behalf of ZEISS Meditec, offering ITIL-based service management and 3rd level support through operations and support teams located in Germany, Hungary, and India.

The solution

The cloud health data platform is part of the integrated environment of the ZEISS Medical Ecosystem. The ZEISS Medical Ecosystem consists of three layers enabling new ways to maximize clinical efficiency and performance.

  • The first layer includes connectable medical devices spanning diagnostic and surgical use cases that generate an invaluable amount of high-quality data.
  • The second layer is the health data platform which connects the ecosystem and enables connectivity, data integration, and digital applications. This is where the data comes together – captured from ZEISS and 3rd party devices and EMR systems.
  • The third layer includes digital applications for the clinician, the practice, and the patient. The applications use data accessible from the health data platform to support streamlined workflows, accelerated clinical planning, education, procedure optimization, and patient engagement.

Our services

We collaborated with ZEISS Meditec supporting in the following processes and services:

  • Platform architecture
  • Security architecture
  • Cloud and application solution design
  • Software development
  • Requirements engineering and backlog management
  • Quality assurance management
  • Test design, execution and test automation
  • Cloud operations set-up and management & DevOps

Technical environment

The following technologies have been used in the implementation of the data platform which was deployed across multiple countries worldwide.

  • Azure Functions
  • Azure API for FHIR
  • Azure Health Data Services
  • Azure Data Lake
  • Azure CosmosDB
  • Azure Event Grid
  • Azure API for DICOMweb
  • Azure DevOps
  • Node.js
  • TypeScript
  • Java
  • Terraform
  • Angular

Results

With the Health Data Platform, ZEISS offers the ability to harness the power of cloud-based digital system. Opening new opportunities for doctors to leverage data at scale, review and plan for surgeries, better understand disease, compliantly collaborate with peers and improve patient outcomes.

  • +2,5 mio cases

    from around the world are supported on the cloud-based Health Data Platform from ZEISS in the first 2 years of since its launch.

ZEISS Digital Innovation has been an invaluable partner in shaping and executing the vision for an industry-leading health data platform supporting an integrated medical ecosystem.

 

Their expertise and commitment have enabled us to create a key solution which plays a vital role in our digital roadmap. Throughout the process, ZEISS Digital Innovation demonstrated a high level of professionalism, providing partner-and expert-level support and bringing their deep knowledge in technology and medical software development in regulated environments to the project.

Carl Zeiss Meditec AG
Image of Leo Lindhorst
Project Lead Leo Lindhorst Head of Innovation
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