Indra, the leading multinational IT solutions developer in Spain has its own offices in Santiago de Chile, where it is implementing an energetic expansion in the health sector.
The pillars of this expansion are remote systems applications and healthcare systems platforms.
The company’s model for growth is based on continuous technological innovation.The numbers given out by its headquarters in Madrid speak clearly: over 3 billion euros of sales, more than 40,000 employees across the globe, a presence in over 118 countries and more than 140 million telecommunications customers.
The acquisition, in the year 2000, of the healthcare consultant Soluziona marked the company’s move into the healthcare market, thus adding a new dimension to the company’s already prestigious activities in energy, industry and financial services.
EHealth Reporter Latin America: How did the company’s interest in focusing on the health sector arise?
Marcelo Peñailillo: Indra had already tested its solutions in the Spanish market. In Chile, we are now in a stage that focuses on the implementation of clinical hospital computer systems. Computerization at the primary care level has been going on for around ten years and a couple of years ago the first instrumentation of hospital computer systems started to be implemented in a few healthcare networks.
EHRLA: In the first hospital concession in Chile, for example?
MP: Exactly. It is important to explain that today in Chile, some hospitals are no longer being built by the Ministry of Health but are rather controlled by a mixed public and private system known as “concession hospitals”. We made a strong investment in this trend and offered our solutions, which are mature and consolidated in the international market. So we won the tender to integrate all the computer systems of the first concession hospital in Chile, the Hospital de Florida, which will start operations in 2013.
EHRLA: What does this integration consist of?
MP: We offer a comprehensive system. This is a tremendous opportunity because, in contrast to other projects that have taken place in Chile, this hospital started with a hospital IT system from day one. So its processes; administration, finance, clinical care, etc. were already integrated and this is vital not only for providing better medical care to patients but also in optimizing business intelligence processes. We are aware that we have a tremendous opportunity to present the first digital model within the concession model, and that it should be a point of reference for the concessions that will follow in the future.
EHRLA: Are you planning to continue bidding for tenders?
MP: Yes, of course. In fact right now a tender bid is under way for a hospital concession in Antofagasta. These concessions are being prepared so that the bids can be presented and the operation of the hospital awarded, and in this context we are going to make a large commitment to the concessions model with our entire comprehensive range; from clinical solutions to the RB system and all our other solutions such as platforms for remote healthcare systems including medical imaging, electrocardiogram, mapping, arterial pressure and remote monitoring systems.
EHRLA: Will Hospital La Florida be completely digital when it opens in March?
MP:We will release the different modules gradually, as the different hospital operations are set up.
EHRLA: How did you resolve interoperability issues?
MP: With our own solutions such as DHS, complemented with support such as SAP, databases and Oracle integration solutions
EHRLA: As an IT engineer who has been in the role of Healthcare Manager at the company for a year, I’d like to hear some of your opinions: What skills do you think are needed to understand the needs of the sector and work in Health IT?
MP: Basically one has to know how to listen to the client, understand their need to set up the necessary solutions in each of the sectors. Working in healthcare in general is related to consultancy and this means sitting down with the client, listening to them and being able to understand and reflect what the clients want. One must have an overall vision of the clinical process to be able to find the answer they need now and later on. For example, in Chile we are already talking about electronic prescriptions, something that Indra has offered for years in Spain, where over 150 thousand prescriptions have already been issued.
EHRLA: Is it possible to keep innovating in healthcare or has everything already been done?
MP :Indra’s Research and Development Department is continuously seeking new solutions. Currently it is developing technologies labeled as being “accessible”; this is software designed for five types of disability. We are in the process of signing agreements with other companies to develop virtual keyboards that can be activated by eye movement and others that recognize head movements. We believe that there is still much to be done, mainly in making sure that the technology is within everybody’s reach.
EHRLA: Are these developments available in Chile?
MP: No, the experience is different here in Chile. We are focusing on systems integration; we are working with the health network of the Universidad Católica de Chile anddoing everything related to integrating hospital systems and interoperability.
EHRLA: Is the degree of connectivity available in the country sufficient?
MP: Chile has a very well developed telecommunications system relative to Latin America regarding fiber optics. Telefónica provides a healthcare highway and its network connects all hospitals with broadband. Furthermore, Minsal has established the tender processes that will make it possible to incorporate lighting services via wi fi networks. For example, the La Florida hospital will be connected via Minsal.
