In the Netherlands, the screening of breast, colon and cervical cancer is carried out using the information platform ScreenIT. ScreenIT was developed in co-creation by FSB (National Screening Cooperation), RIVM (The Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment) and Topicus. ScreenIT facilitates the sharing of personal health records across multiple cancer screening programs. Topicus has the ambition to share knowledge and experience of Dutch screening programs to other countries and to build a fully customized platform for these countries. The Hospital de Amor offers an opportunity to make this reality for the fifth largest country in the world.
The ambitious Hospital de Amor
To get a good picture of the hospital, how one looks at screening of all kinds of cancer, and how that is organized, the three gentlemen received an extensive tour. Hospital de Amor has ambitious plans for the future: becoming the leader throughout Brazil when it comes to delivering care. From first and second line, to prevention and treatment, specialism in cancer, and even orthopedic care.
"The special thing is that only 30% of the costs of Hospital de Amor are borne is by the government, the rest is all gifts (sponsors). "
Organization of care in Brazil
The way in which Brazil organizes healthcare is different to the Netherlands in many respects. We can teach them a lot, but we can also learn a lot from them.
When it comes to data protection, you see big differences. To get a good picture of the screening process, the Topicans also got to see the registration forms. These were filled in with all possible kinds of personal data. The Brazilian doctor indicated that they could be copied for the analysis file. This would be unthinkable in the Netherlands, where everything’s strictly according to the new GDPR (AVG).
In Brazil, healthcare providers use a variety of information systems, just as in the Netherlands. Correspondingly, many systems are not yet linked to each other, resulting in a lot of redundant work. In the Netherlands, ScreenIT is the spider in the web of the various programs to be implemented, and it links the various systems together. All partners in the field of cancer screening are connected. This truly means a screening program. Only in this way is there a grip on the process, the execution of the program can be monitored reliably and there is insight into quality and effectiveness. In Brazil, the process is mainly based on paper. There is a form that goes as a "walking ticket" along the entire process, and this comes with all the consequences: no reliable process, no grip, no monitoring, no insight, no reliable data.
Brazil does particularly well when it comes to patient experience; their drive to deliver good care, purely focused on people, is enviable. This is reflected in both communication with patients and the appearance of, for example, their 'research buses'. Our Dutch bus is white, clinical and boring, while Brazil has opted for a more inviting appearance and comfortable interior.
"The way Hospital de Amor sees the patient as a person is incredible!"
Implementation of a screening standard in Brazil
There are several challenges that we need to address to make the implementation of screening software successful in Brazil. Based on the generic breast cancer screening plate, the entire process has been completed and we have examined which "gaps" there are. With that we clearly laid out their requirements and indicated what they can expect from screening software.
In cooperation with the parties involved, we will present a comprehensive plan on how screening software could be implemented. Here we must take into account all circumstances (such as connections, internet coverage, government information systems etc.) that influence the use of the information system and the process to be set up.
We are proud that Topicus can share the Netherlands’ knowledge and experience of population screening from with Brazil. We are determined to implement customized screening software and thereby contribute to Brazil’s high level of care, because we want all people, anywhere in the world, to have a high quality of life for as long as possible.