The hospital future act (KHZG)

The hospital future act (KHZG) helps you go digital!

Up to 4.3 billion in funding for digitization measures will be available to hospitals in Germany in the future. The schedule is tight! In many federal states, the application for funding must be submitted in the next few weeks. Applications for funding must be submitted via the state authorities by December 31, 2021, and the funded projects must be implemented by 2024. Projects already running since 02.09.2020 are also eligible for funding!

What is the hospital future act (KHZG)?

The hospital future act or “Krankenhauszukunftsgesetz” was passed by the German Bundestag on September 18. It provides for the federal and state governments to make a total of 4.3 billion euros available for investment in emergency care, IT security and digitization at hospitals via the hospital future fund (Krankenhauszukunftsfond) from January 1, 2021. The prerequisite for applying for a funding grant is the suitability of the projects, which must meet the following criteria set out in § 19 Abs. 1 KHZG.

11 funding fields push digitization forward

  • Adaptation of hospital emergency rooms to current technical standards
  • Establishment of patient portals for digital admission and discharge management
  • Complete electronic documentation of treatment and care services
  • Automated clinical decision support systems
  • Digital medication management
  • Internal hospital digital processes for requesting services
  • Structured coordination of services offered by multiple hospitals, e.g., via a cloud computing system
  • Establishment of online-based care record systems for beds
  • Establishment of a telemedicine network structure between hospitals and outpatient facilities, robotics-based equipment, systems or procedures
  • IT and cyber security
  • Adaptation of patient rooms in the event of an epidemic

A tight schedule: Submit demand registrations to the federal states now!

In the first stage, the hospital operator notifies the responsible state of its need with the help of a demand notification. The Bundesamt für Soziale Sicherung (BAS)(Federal Office for Social Security) provides the relevant forms for this purpose. The state then decides for which projects funding should be requested from the BAS.

In the second stage, the state submits an application to the BAS for funding of the hospital operator’s project. The BAS provides the application forms here.

This is what you have to do now


Healex supports you during the whole process

1 • Detailed description of the project

To determine the specific funding requirements, the current status of digitization at your hospital must first be determined. Based on this, the target state up to 2025 is established and eligible projects are derived.

2 • Perform audit by IT service provider

IT experts trained for this need assess the fit of the project to the requirements. Ideally, you work with the service provider during the application process to adapt eligible projects to your hospital.

3 • Submit requisition

The first step is to register your needs using the application forms provided by the Bundesamt für Soziale Sicherung (BAS). You must also provide detailed, substantiated information about your digitization plan.

4 • Demonstrate project progress

After the grant has been received, audits of the appropriate use of the funds are carried out regularly. In addition, the IT service provider must provide evidence of compliance with the requirements of § 19 (1) and the funding guidelines.

Deadlines for the application

Federal StateSubmission of the application
Baden-Württemberguntil Oktober 15. 2021
Bavariauntil the end of May 2021
Berlinno deadline
Brandenburguntil May 28. 2021
Bremenuntil September 30. 2021
Hamburguntil January 31. 2021
Hesseuntil June 30. 2021
Mecklenburg-West Pomeraniauntil February 28 2021
North Rhine-Westfalia17. bis 31. Mai 2021
Lower SaxonyMarch 1. until September 30. 2021
Rhineland-PalatinateApril 01. until May 15. 2021
Saaruntil summer
Sachsenno deadline
Saxony-Anhaltthird quarter 2021
Schleswig-Holsteinuntil May 31. 2021
Thuringiauntil September 30. 2021

Healex is your partner for digitization


We assist you at all stages, from the initial requirement to implementation

Through many years of close cooperation with hospitals and research centers, we are experts in modernizing and scaling established hospital IT and research infrastructures. The networking of research and care as well as the establishment of personalized medicine and therapies, are our strengths.

With our solutions, we help your hospital drive the digital transformation of healthcare while adhering to the highest data protection and security criteria. Our Clinical Data Management systems, mobile web solutions for clinical process support and FHIR products are suitable for complete process automation as well as real-time integration of structured clinical data into all areas of your organization.

Interoperability 2025 - the legal strategy


The FHIR data standard as an integral requirement for all digitization projects

The German healthcare system urgently needs to become more digital. This requires uniform data processing standards that have been tested in clinical practice. These have existed internationally for years, but in Germany they are still in their infancy.

The requirement to eliminate system and process discontinuities and to create semantic interoperability between all those involved in the treatment process is the common thread running through the law and the funding guidelines. The implementation of consensual standards, first and foremost the German FHIR® base profiles, is mandatory (see funding elements 2-6, 9)!

Why is structured data so important for semantic interoperability?

Progress in medicine through scientific work and clinical research is only possible on the basis of structured data (cf. study protocols).

Data exchange in a specific medical context can only be successful when based on structured data. Only if the information transmitted (e.g., diagnoses, findings, medications) can be interpreted clearly and unambiguously can it be used in the treatment process.

Decision support by self-learning systems or AI-based algorithms can develop their potential primarily on the basis of structured data. To feed the machine learning routines, the data must be converted into a structured format.

A standardized and medically validated data structure is essential for the voluntary donation of data for medical research from the electronic patient record (ePA), which is scheduled to begin in 2023.

Healex brings 15 years of experience in capturing, processing and transforming structured medical data at the interface of research and care.

FHIR data standard is the future for clinical data integration

FHIR is a standard and integration protocol developed by the HL7 organization that facilitates granular data exchange in healthcare:

  • Many of the largest technology companies, such as Apple with Apple Health or Google with Google Health, as well as numerous hospitals and research organizations, are already using FHIR productively.
  • FHIR uses current web technologies (RESTful services, TLS, OAUTH2) and provides rich data representation in JSON/XML/RDF. This enables secure and flexible use of health data over the web.
  • FHIR provides strong interfaces for developers and users and, as a platform, enables the development of many different healthcare data solutions.
  • The FHIR standard (Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources) enables secure data exchange between software systems and thus plays a central role in the introduction of the electronic patient record. Data formats are exchanged via an interface. This means that health data collected from patients, for example via health apps, can also be processed on end devices such as smartphones or tablets and integrated into existing systems. Thus, FHIR represents the basis of digital data transmission and merging, which is necessary for the further development of the digitalization of healthcare.

Healex are experts in the FHIR data standard.

More about Healex FHIR solutions

We provide you with tailor-made support in the individual funding points

Efficient data exchange and storage are essential for up-to-date technical, especially information technology, equipment in the emergency department.

The Healex Clinical Integration Hub (CIH) offers a modern infrastructure for networking HIS, patient records, diagnoses, laboratory results and device data, as well as telemedical exchange based on the FHIR data standard.

The Healex Clinical Integration Hub (CIH) consists of an Enterprise FHIR Server for data storage and exchange, as well as interface components for data integration of existing systems (Healex Mapping Engine), secure data exchange (Smart on FHIR) and integration into existing IT (FHIR Plugins), and a terminology server (CSIRO Ontoserver).

More Information about the Healex CIH

In order to ensure the future security of the patient portal, in particular the admission and discharge management, the data exchange as well as the communication paths to and from the hospital must be carried out using the FHIR data standard. Our goal is therefore to ensure a continuous FHIR-based data exchange.

By using the Healex products Case Manager and Clinical Integration Hub (CIH) all service providers and recipients as well as clinical, nursing and rehabilitation facilities and payers can be efficiently networked and secure data exchange ensured. In addition, the collected data can be made available in structured form for service provision and for networking between research and care.

Healex Case ManagerHealex Clinical Integration Hub

Structured clinical documentation is enabled by the Healex Clinical Documentation System (CDS), in particular the creation of Case Report Forms (CRF) and other forms.

Routine and care data, such as master data and laboratory data, can be integrated, but research data, such as for cancer registries or clinical use cases, can also be summarized.

The platform differs from other documentation systems in that the forms can be modeled in a very intuitive and structured way, independent of the application.

Healex Clinical Documentation System (CDS)

The Healex Clinical Integration Hub (CIH) enables consistent documentation and consolidation of all data in a FHIR repository (data integration center). As a result, all aspects related to one patient, as well as experiences with many patients, can be taken into account. In addition, the system enables consistent storage of all information from incoming systems and use for subsequent data analysis.

The visual presentation of clinical patient data and clinical documentation in a structured form is enabled by the Healex Clinical Documentation System (CDS) in conjunction with SAP interfaces and the HIS. This allows patient data to be connected to additional knowledge bases or linked to reminder and alert functions that facilitate and support clinical therapy decisions.

Healex Clinical Documentation System (CDS)

The Healex Clinical Documentation System (CDS) with interfaces to the laboratory and the HIS is also suitable for end-to-end digital medication management.

Here, medication management can also be mapped on a case-by-case basis as part of a therapy (in clinical trials or regular therapies). The system also facilitates the systematic review of interactions, contraindications and incorrect medication, as well as the issuing of warnings.

Healex Clinical Documentation System (CDS)

The Healex Clinical Documentation System (CDS) makes it easier for physicians to digitally and securely request services for outpatients and inpatients, especially diagnoses, biopsies, and other laboratory tests, as well as to view data regardless of location, to obtain an overview of the requested services, to prevent duplicate requests, and to transfer the requested services to the clinical documentation and receive feedback on the course of treatment.

This provides a variety of digital support and relief for clinical staff. Via interfaces to supported HIS, as well as the FHIR data standard and standard HL7 interfaces, the captured data can be transferred directly into the electronic patient record.

Healex Clinical Documentation System (CDS)

All Healex solutions, including the Healex Site Management System (SMS), Healex Clinical Documentation System (CDS) and web solutions such as Healex Case Manager for data and process automation, are offered as both on-premise and cloud solutions (hosted in highly secure network centers).

A roles and rights system allows rights to be set on individual, structured health data based on the FHIR standard. Healex solutions support pseudonymization, audit logs and rights and role management for secure operation. Communication between the individual components is always via encrypted connections.

Healex Site Management System (SMS)Healex Clinical Documentation System (CDS)Healex Case Manager

The Healex Clinical Integration Hub (CIH) offers the establishment or interconnection of telemedical network infrastructures between hospitals or between hospitals and outpatient facilities or research institutions. It is based on an FHIR server and the Healex Mapping Engine, which enable the provision and networking of structured health data. A connection to the telematics infrastructure can be implemented via the secure FHIR infrastructure of the CIH.

Healex mobile web solutions, such as Healex Case Manager, Healex Entry Manager and Healex Vaccine Scheduler, enable the digitalization of patient appointment management, medical history and doctor’s letters, among other things, and thus facilitate process support for all steps before and after treatment.

Healex Clinical Integration Hub (CIH)

The technical availability of the Healex infrastructure is guaranteed by hosting providers. These ensure high availability of the systems. All services are containerized and can be operated with an OCI-compatible runtime. Operation in a Kubernetes cluster, for example, is possible without any problems and is recommended by Healex GmbH. Corresponding certifications through audits are available.

The connection to the telematics infrastructure is enabled by the FHIR infrastructure of the Healex Clinical Integration Hub (CIH). The Healex Clinical Documentation System (CDS) enables highly available provision of clinical documentation via multiple access paths (web, bridgehead or local mirroring).

Healex Clinical Integration Hub (CIH)Healex Clinical Documentation System (CDS)

Im Fall einer Epidemie kann der sichere und beschränkte Zugang für Besucher zu Stationen und Patientenzimmern über den Healex Entry Manager mobil gesteuert werden. Damit lassen sich auch die Bettenauslastung flexibler steuern.

Healex Entry Manager offers a mobile, platform-independent solution for the implementation of Covid-19 hygiene measures and visitor management, including mobile screening of visitors and querying of their health status, provision of information on applicable hygiene regulations, the creation of non-transferable visitor tickets valid for a limited period of time, and thus enables seamless and effective contact tracing. In this context, control adapted to the Covid-19 measures in the clinic is also possible.

Healex Entry Manager

Your contact

Antonio Pinto
Project Manager

Email: antonio.pinto@wp.swarm.healex.systems

Mobile: +49 152 01749557
Phone: +49 2203 5026368

Isaac Ames
Project Manager

E-Mail: isaac.ames@wp.swarm.healex.systems

Mobile: +49 179 4148021
Phone: +49 2203 5026368

Lara Isiklar
Coordinator

E-Mail: lara.isiklar@wp.swarm.healex.systems

Phone: +49 2203 5026368

We are here for you!

Healex supports you in assessing and checking the eligibility of your digitization project and helps you plan a proposal tailored to your needs. Even if you need help with the application process, you can rely on us. For an individual consultation and an initial evaluation of your project, contact us at any time. We will clarify open questions and wishes with you and will be at your side on the way to funding your digitization project and beyond.

Do you have questions or need advice? Our experts will help you

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