English
New Delhi: Vishwasrao Salunkhe is a well-known leader in the healthcare information technology arena who has been in practice for over 15 years and has extensive experience in EHR data (Electronic Health Records) integration for improving patient outcomes. He is also an IBM Champion and has received numerous accolades, including making it to the “Healthcare Innovation 40 under 40.” Many of his works have significantly impacted diagnosis, health system connectivity, and data-driven innovations. In this special edition, Vishwasrao describes his own career and professional achievements and what he sees as the prospects for the development of healthcare data exchange in an interoperable way, bringing the patient to the center of the ecosystem.
Q1: What motivated you to start working in healthcare technology?
A: My motivation dates back to when I was pursuing my Master’s in Industrial Mathematics & Computer Applications. It was during this time that I began to truly understand the transformative power of data in solving real-world problems. Healthcare stood out to me as an area where technology could significantly improve patient outcomes. The integration of data science and healthcare opened my eyes to how technology could play a critical role in making informed decisions that ultimately save lives. This realization ignited my passion for healthcare technology, and I have been dedicated to it ever since.
Q2: You have headed the development of the Clinical Decision Support System. What is the irony of such an undertaking?
A: The development of the Clinical Decision Support System (CDSS) is one of the most rewarding accomplishments of my career. It’s a platform that integrates with major healthcare systems like Epic and Cerner’s Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems, leveraging the most up-to-date clinical decision-making standards tailored to a patient’s medical background. I was responsible for defining, designing, and implementing the platform, with a focus on security, scalability, and cross-platform availability. The platform is built on the latest healthcare standards such as SMART on FHIR and CDS Hooks, making it deployable across various healthcare organizations. This system provides doctors with critical information at key decision points, enabling them to make faster and more informed decisions, ultimately improving patient management.
Q3: What issues did you encounter when building the Connected Health Platform at Fresenius Medical Care?
A: The biggest challenge was ensuring seamless and secure interconnection between home dialysis patients and hospital systems, enabling real-time transfer of patient treatment data. We had to ensure that the platform could handle communication with medical devices while maintaining functionality and stringent security standards. To achieve scalability and efficient interaction with cloud infrastructure, we utilized Containers and Kubernetes technologies. Implementing encryption methods like RSA played a critical role in securing offline data transmission for client-side cryptography. This platform revolutionized remote healthcare delivery, empowering patients with timely information while keeping healthcare providers continuously informed.
Q4: You have proudly worn titles such as the IBM Champion Award. What is your view regarding the impact of cloud and IoT technologies on your work?
A: IoT and cloud computing are integral to everything I do, enabling the development of advanced healthcare systems that are adaptable, scalable, and capable of managing vast amounts of data. Being recognized as an IBM Champion was an honor, acknowledging my contributions to the integration of IoT in healthcare. For example, the Connected Health Platform leveraged the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT), connecting medical devices across geographically dispersed health centers. Cloud platforms like AWS and Microsoft Azure facilitate real-time data processing, empowering clinicians with timely insights for patient care.
In addition to improving data accessibility and reliability, these technologies ensure that healthcare systems can seamlessly scale to meet the growing demands of patients and providers. The real-time monitoring capabilities offered by IoT devices have empowered healthcare professionals to make more proactive and informed decisions, enhancing the quality of care. Moreover, cloud computing has significantly reduced infrastructure costs, making advanced healthcare services more accessible to organizations of all sizes. These innovations are driving the evolution of healthcare, pushing the boundaries of what is possible, and ultimately transforming patient outcomes.
Q5: How does the application of data science help solve some problems in the field of healthcare?
A: Data science plays a pivotal role in transforming healthcare by uncovering trends and patterns that inform evidence-based decision-making. I have worked extensively with large datasets, including those from sources like PhysioNet, MIMIC-III, and eICU, to conduct in-depth analyses of patient data and predict clinical outcomes. Leveraging tools like Python and Google BigQuery allows us to process massive datasets efficiently, extracting actionable insights. For example, predictive analytics can be employed to anticipate potential health complications, enabling earlier interventions and ultimately preventing adverse conditions before they arise.
Beyond clinical outcomes, data science also streamlines operational workflows, improving resource allocation, optimizing treatment protocols, and reducing healthcare costs. By harnessing advanced analytics, we can not only enhance patient care but also empower healthcare providers to deliver more personalized, efficient, and proactive healthcare solutions.
Q6: You have participated in some external events like the MIT Hack for Medicine and the SCCM Datathon. How did those events affect your work?
A: Hackathons and datathons, like the one at MIT Hack for Medicine or Data for the SCCM Datathon, are much more than competitions. These further enhance the scope of innovation since teams have to be creative and complete replica tasks within a specified time frame. Our team at the MIT Hack for Medicine developed an innovative AI-based approach to patient engagement for readmission reduction, which won special awards. Most of the time, fluctuations of glucose were ignored in glucose management of critically ill patients, which resulted in novel techniques for stabilizing and manipulating blood sugar. These types of competitions are more than just contests. They are a chance for people to interact with other professionals to form collaborations and look for different ways of addressing problems in the healthcare industry. They’ve broadened my scope and exposed me to new tools and concepts that I can use in practice in my everyday activities.
Q7: What strategies do you adopt to stay current in an industry that is constantly changing its technological base?
A: In the rapidly evolving field of healthcare technology, staying current is essential. I actively participate in industry conferences such as HL7 FHIR DevDays, the AMIA Informatics Summit, and various Collectathons to stay informed about emerging standards and innovations. In addition to attending events, I continually enhance my technical skills by earning certifications in cloud platforms like AWS and Microsoft Azure, which help me stay updated on the latest advancements in cloud computing.
Moreover, my involvement in key standards committees and workgroups, such as the HL7 Clinical Decision Support (CDS) Work Group and the IEEE EMBS Work Group for Healthcare Standards and Security, enables me to contribute to and stay at the forefront of developments in healthcare interoperability and security. Continuous learning and engagement with these communities are crucial in adopting novel technologies and methodologies that enhance patient care. Ultimately, embracing new concepts and tools is key to driving meaningful improvements in healthcare delivery.
Q8: Collaboration forms an integral part of your career. How has it added to your achievements?
A: Collaboration is absolutely essential in the field of healthcare technology, which is so complex and multidisciplinary that no single individual or organization can address all its challenges alone. Throughout my career, I have had the privilege of working with a diverse range of stakeholders—from patients and clinicians to government bodies, EHR vendors like Epic and Cerner, and standards organizations like HL7. For example, while developing a Clinical Decision Support Platform, it was crucial to collaborate with EHR vendors to ensure seamless integration and interoperability across systems.
Additionally, my involvement with HL7 standards development working groups has allowed me to engage with industry leaders to create globally compatible healthcare solutions. Successful healthcare innovation requires input from a broad array of experts: technologists, clinicians, regulators, and caregivers all play vital roles in developing systems that improve patient outcomes. By bringing these diverse perspectives together, we can more effectively tackle complex healthcare challenges and drive meaningful advancements in the field. This collaborative approach has been a cornerstone of my work, leading to impactful solutions that are scalable and globally applicable.
Q9: Are there any trends related to advancing technologies in health care that particularly excite you?
A: The increasing combination of various technologies, such as AI, IoT, and cloud computing is what I find most appealing. AI is already changing the game in diagnostics and treatment plans because of the ability to look at a large amount of data, understand it, and then even see more complex correlations that are hidden from even professional doctors. IoT has made it possible for patients to be monitored even at home which is mostly required in managing chronic conditions. Cloud computing is also making all these processes and data infrastructures efficient and compliant with the regulations in the management of healthcare data. All these developments taken together, grant us even greater possibilities for the individualization, preemptiveness, and accuracy of healthcare, and that is what makes me very happy.
Q10: What is the one piece of wise counsel would you give to professionals who desire to join the technology side of healthcare?
A: The best advice I can give is to stay curious and committed to learning. Healthcare technology is dynamic, and so are the skills needed today. Invest in data science, and cloud computing, and learn about the healthcare system; be ready to take part in industry crowdfunding platforms or hackathons. Working together is just as important – joint projects not only in your area of expertise but also in other less familiar domains to tackle complex issues. Above all, do not lose sight of why we do all of this: patient outcomes improvement. In the quest to make the heads look for better healthcare, all the obstacles present themselves turn to be working towards the overall goal.
Vishwasrao Salunkhe’s ascent from software engineer to a leader in healthcare transformations is quite remarkable and showcases the impact of technology on patient outcomes. He has been deeply involved in projects that excite him in allowing him to combine data science, cloud technology, and AI as these are the latest advancements in the healthcare turnaround tapestry. He shows others who wish to do good in the world powered by technology that it is not only the technology that needs to be addressed in healthcare transformation and that other issues are more critical – that of saving lives.
FIRST PUBLISHED: 13 th November 2022
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