Super hospitals: The secret behind Nordic countries' healthcare success
In Nordic countries, the hospital structure is special. There are so-called super hospitals instead of many small local clinics. A super hospital is a large, advanced medical facility that provides a wide range of specialized services and treatments in one location. These hospitals are equipped with the latest technology and staffed by various professionals, allowing for efficient, high-quality care and improved patient outcomes.
How did the concept of the super hospital develop?
Frank: "The term "super hospital" is more commonly used in Denmark than in other countries. Essentially, a super clinic is a university hospital where all the expertise is concentrated. In the Nordic countries, especially in Norway and Sweden, due to the geographical size, we need hospitals that offer a certain volume of services in the cities to gather the necessary competencies.
Given the relatively small population in the Nordic countries, large university hospitals have always been present in the capital cities. This concept isn't new, but what we see now is that these hospitals are being built with the future in mind. They now have more daycare facilities than in the past, and the hospitals being constructed today are different from those built a few years ago, with more special departments available.
Politicians are now focusing on closing smaller hospitals or reducing the treatments offered there. Especially in Norway, with its fjords and scattered populations along the coast, smaller local hospitals or treatment centers are reduced. Patients are being moved to super hospitals.
Essentially, a specific number of cases is needed to attract doctors, which is why these countries are adopting this approach. By centralizing health services in super clinics, we ensure that the best professionals are available to provide top-notch treatment."
The super hospitals are equipped with the latest medical IT and building technology to ensure top-notch treatments.
Which role does pharmacy automation and transport automation play in these facilities?
Frank: "If I start with transport automation, it plays a crucial role in large hospitals, especially those with a footprint of several hundred thousand square meters. Transport automation is essential for moving items efficiently within these vast facilities. These hospitals have KPIs for treatments, including the lead time for blood samples from collection to analysis. In large buildings, transport automation is vital, and lead times are measured in seconds. The larger the hospital, the more important systems like pneumatic tube systems (PTS) and other transport methods become.
For us, these large hospitals are very important clients because they are all equipped with automation as a standard. In the Nordic region, you cannot build a new hospital without systems for waste and linen management , Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs), and other transport automation.
Regarding medication management, the complete focus is on patient safety and reducing nursing time spent on administrative tasks. Hospital management is looking for solutions to minimize the time nurses and pharmacists spend preparing treatments, thereby increasing patient care time.
Different countries have adopted various approaches, with some favoring unit dose systems, which match perfectly with our products. However, all countries aim to have some form of automation for medication management. Like transport automation, it is a standard requirement when building or developing hospitals, with the specific solutions being decided by the hospital."
These super clinics compete financially through rankings and profitability calculations to attract patients both within and outside Scandinavia.
What are the financial benefits of automatic hospital solutions?
Frank: "While hospitals do compete, it's not an open market. In Oslo, for example, patients go to the closest hospital, which is publicly owned by the government. There are no private clinics, and although patients can choose their hospital, most stick with their local one. In Europe and the US, the system often involves more competition, but in the Nordics, it's different.
To attract top doctors and nurses, it's essential to have the latest technology. Government financing of hospitals makes it crucial to implement solutions that prioritize patient safety. Hospitals won't receive compensation if they need to retreat a person they have already treated, emphasizing the importance of effective initial treatments. Cost efficiency is a significant factor in the decision to invest in transport automation and staffing solutions, ensuring that hospitals operate at peak efficiency while maintaining high standards of care.
Therefore, the primary motivation for transport automation is patients safety, cost reduction and attracting the best clinicians."
Germany is planning to centralize and specialize its hospital system to improve the quality and efficiency. This new reform aims to concentrate medical expertise and advanced treatments in specialized centers, ensuring the best possible care for complex and rare conditions. Additionally, a transformation fund of 25 billion euros will be invested from 2026 to 2035 to support these changes and modernize hospital infrastructure.
What do you think is the reason why the Nordic countries saw the solution in centralized but specialized hospitals earlier than the other European countries?
Frank: "The size of the market plays a crucial role. In Norway, with a population of about five million people, it's essential to have a sufficient volume of patients for doctors to perform enough surgeries. A doctor at a countryside hospital, performing heart surgery only every third month, wouldn't find it appealing.
In countries like mine, where the population is widely spread across a large area, centralization is necessary to attract top doctors. By centralizing healthcare in larger hospitals, we ensure that doctors have the volume of patients needed to retain their skills and improve through frequent practice. This approach is vital for maintaining high standards and attracting the best medical professionals, making it a key reason why the Nordic countries adopted this solution earlier than other European countries."
The infrastructure in Nordic countries is much different than in central Europe. Fewer people live in a larger area.
Is the situation even comparable?
Frank: "When comparing Oslo to other major European cities, the situation is quite similar. However, across the Nordic region, the landscape changes. Unlike other areas, we don't have smaller specialized hospitals scattered throughout the countryside. Instead, we have smaller clinical treatment centers focused on general healthcare services, such as childbirth. Specialized hospitals are centralized in the big capital cities because there, it's needed most."
From which political decisions does pharmacy automation benefit in the Nordics?
Frank: "In the Nordic countries, patient safety is the top priority, driving significant investments in pharmacy automation. Studies consistently show that increased automation enhances safety, which is the primary motivation behind our advanced medication management systems.
We firmly believe that unit dose systems represent the pinnacle of safety, and we stand by this view. However, we understand that budget constraints are a reality, even if the goal is to equip hospitals with the highest level of automation and the safest solutions.
Despite these challenges, politics have an unwavering commitment to patient safety, which remains the driving force behind all public investment projects. By prioritizing automation, they are not only improving outcomes but also ensuring that healthcare facilities operate at the highest standards of safety and efficiency at the same time."
It appears that the work atmosphere in hospitals in Scandinavia tends to be more relaxed compared to clinics in other countries. There is a strong emphasis on maintaining a healthy and happy staff.
What can pharmacy and transport automation contribute to this?
Frank: "In the Nordic countries, we try to create a less stressful work environment for our healthcare professionals. Our innovative automation solutions play a crucial role in achieving this goal. By reducing the burden of supporting activities, we allow doctors and nurses to focus on what truly matters: the patient.
Our state-of-the-art transport and medication management systems ensure that workers are not bogged down by tasks that can be efficiently handled by robots. This not only enhances efficiency but also significantly reduces stress levels, contributing to the health and happiness of the workforce.
This forward-thinking approach ensures that our facilities are at the forefront of innovation, providing top-notch care while maintaining a positive work atmosphere."
