Meeting with Damien Alcantara, Product Director at Softway Medical Group

Digital sovereignty is a major challenge within our healthcare systems. To reconcile data protection and innovation, we leverage several strategic approaches. We have a long-standing presence in data hosting with HDS-certified (Health Data Hosting) infrastructures. We invest heavily in the implementation of end-to-end encryption and architectures compliant with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) applicable in Europe. We continue to innovate by developing services that use synthetic or anonymized data, enabling AI to unlock its potential while preserving patient confidentiality and the individual contributions of healthcare professionals. In France, such initiatives are closely monitored by organizations like the CNIL, which provides recommendations on Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIA) for AI systems. Finally, innovation is driven by our close collaboration with healthcare institutions, allowing us to co-develop solutions tailored to users’ specific needs while maintaining sovereignty and security requirements. Our approach to exchanging all types of health data has historically relied on the use of open and internationally recognized standards such as HL7, DICOM, and FHIR, combined with reference terminologies like ICD-10, LOINC, and SNOMED CT. We also develop robust and well-documented application programming interfaces (APIs), enabling seamless integration with third-party systems and fostering a collaborative approach. As a long-standing member of the French association Interop’Santé, we play a key role in governing and standardizing interoperability frameworks in collaboration with healthcare authorities and digital health industry stakeholders. We regularly participate in Projectathon and Connectathon events, essential for testing and validating our solutions' compliance with various interoperability standards used in healthcare information systems. We actively contribute to national and regional initiatives promoting interoperability, such as the Ségur numérique program in France, which aims to accelerate the secure and seamless exchange of health data. Finally, we work closely with our clients and partners to identify and address specific interoperability challenges within each healthcare institution. 

The development of artificial intelligence (AI) will play a central role by enabling faster and more accurate analysis of medical data related to exams such as medical imaging, helping radiologists detect early pathologies and anomalies with greater precision. The integration of evidence-based recommendation systems assists clinicians in making informed decisions, reducing the risk of complications, and personalizing treatment plans based on each patient's specific characteristics. AI also provides the ability to automatically generate medical summaries and reports, optimizing workflow and reducing the administrative burden on healthcare professionals using our applications. Additionally, patient journey management solutions, combined with telemedicine, teleradiology, tele-expertise, and real-time information sharing between healthcare professionals, patients, and their relatives, enable faster and more coordinated patient care, reducing delays and improving the overall care experience. We have demonstrated our ability to secure outpatient surgery patient care by offering digital services that maintain a connection between patients and caregivers before and after their procedures. Preparation for surgery is facilitated through the systematic sending of clear preoperative instructions. Automatic detection of complications, based on self-reported patient data, allows healthcare teams to focus efforts on those who truly need it, optimizing caregivers' time. Furthermore, we now have the capability to offer personalized prevention pathways for patients with risk factors for chronic diseases. These pathways provide proactive support, empowering patients to take charge of their health, improve their quality of life, and prevent complications. Modern digital solutions, such as our EHR, RIS, patient journey management application, and our mobile applications "Patient Portal" and "Healthcare Professionals Portal," enhance collaboration among different healthcare stakeholders. These are complemented by a notification system (SMS/Email) that alerts professionals and patients when an exam result is available or an action is required. Through these applications, we have been offering image result and report sharing for several years, allowing radiologists to quickly transmit their analyses to clinicians, specialists, as well as patients and their relatives. In this regard, we are currently engaged in the DRIMbox project, part of the "Ségur du numérique en santé" initiative, aiming to create a unique national network for the secure sharing of medical images among healthcare professionals. Users of our solutions will benefit from this "gateway," which connects hospital PACS (Picture Archiving and Communication Systems) to the national network, facilitating access to imaging exams via "DMP/My Health Space." Additionally, the integration of our applications with the secure professional and citizen messaging system (MSS) simplifies information sharing, tele-expertise, and multidisciplinary coordination. Finally, the data analysis and reporting tools we provide to our clients help monitor performance and identify areas for improvement in these workflows, enabling informed decision-making and continuous enhancement of care coordination. 

With the rise of cloud and interoperable platforms, several challenges remain in ensuring seamless, secure, and real-time access to imaging data. First and foremost, data security is a critical concern. It is essential to implement robust encryption protocols and multi-factor authentication systems to protect sensitive information. In France, the DRIMbox project, which aims to facilitate the structuring of imaging data sharing, is integrated into the Pro Santé Connect Trust Space. Access to this space is conditioned by the use of an e-Health Proxy and a Pro Santé Connect token, ensuring a secure connection to key services such as the Shared Medical Record (DMP), Digital Prescription, and the National Health Identification Service (INSi). Softway Medical Group has contributed to defining the compliance frameworks for these services and technical components alongside the ANS and other industry stakeholders. The Group is now developing a DRIMbox and an e-Health Proxy in compliance with these defined standards, with the goal of integrating this trust space soon and providing healthcare professionals with a secure digital service for national image and report sharing. Latency and bandwidth constraints can also hinder real-time data access, particularly in high-demand environments with increasing data volumes. To mitigate this, optimizing network infrastructure and ensuring scalable, redundant architectures—such as those underpinning our solutions—are imperative. At Softway Medical Group, continuous investment in these infrastructures remains a strategic priority. First, it is essential to establish a clear strategy and precise objectives regarding interoperability, involving all stakeholders—software vendors, internal project management teams, and end-users—from the outset. Selecting solutions based on open standards (HL7, DICOM, FHIR) and partnering with vendors committed to this vision is crucial. Collaborating with national organizations such as the ANS ensures alignment with interoperability and cybersecurity advancements, particularly through the Ségur digital health framework. Additionally, beginning with pilot projects before large-scale deployment allows for controlled testing of solutions, facilitating the identification of potential barriers and enabling process adjustments accordingly. During Tech4Health, join Sherley Brothier, CPTO of Softway Medical Group, for an agora discussion on the theme: **eNov30: Pragmatic Innovation in Action**. In a rapidly evolving healthcare sector, innovation must provide immediate and tangible solutions to the challenges faced by healthcare professionals. With eNov30, Softway Medical Group has launched a five-year strategic program, structuring an agile and collaborative ecosystem. Secure AI, optimization of medical time, improved work-life quality, data valorization, and 6P medicine are key development areas shaping a more efficient healthcare system. Through a network of experts, an Innovation Lab, and substantial investments, we translate innovation into concrete solutions for 200,000 healthcare professionals. Sherley Brothier, CPTO of Softway Medical Group, will share insights on how this program leverages innovation to develop digital solutions that empower healthcare professionals to make informed decisions within the care pathway and research while preserving their well-being for the benefit of both patients and citizens.