Source: press release of November 1, 2016
In a pitch of five selected finalists, Netherlands-based cooperation WeHelpen successfully convinced a jury of experts from healthcare, economics and academia that they should be selected to receive the 2016 Zimmer Biomet European Connected Health Innovation Award. WeHelpen is an online environment where patients and caregivers are being prepared and supported to set up and use an informal support network of family, friends and people from their neighborhood. Through the online community, patients are challenged to participate in society themselves.
New perspectives through community networks
During the Award Ceremony WeHelpen received a check of €25.000 to further develop the project. Zimmer Biomet will support them in promoting the innovation in leading European orthopaedic hospitals. Coen van de Steeg, initiator of WeHelpen says: “From my own personal experience I know the value and strength of community networks and how important the empowerment of patients is.” Van de Steeg rehabilitated from brain damage acquired after a traffic accident in 2008. “During this period, social media and my mobile phone became tools that gave my life a new perspective. Technologies do have the power to help people get back to an active lifestyle. Receiving the Connected Health Innovation Award today definitely encourages us to continue investing in the strengthening of civil society.”
More information about WeHelpen can be found at www.wehelpen.nl
“Strong networks are key in meeting the challenges in healthcare”
Jury member and Zimmer Biomet EMEA President Katarzyna Mazur-Hofsaess was the first one to congratulate the team: “The jury is truly impressed by what the team of WeHelpen has presented to us. They are putting people in the center of technological development.” Getting connected and building strong and reliable networks among patients, caregivers, communities and all stakeholders involved is key in meeting the challenges in healthcare in the future, Mrs. Mazur-Hofsaess continued. “It is a privilege for Zimmer Biomet to support WeHelpen in successfully bringing their project forward.”
The 1st European Connected Health Innovation Award was initiated by Zimmer Biomet, a leading medical device manufacturer with their European headquarters based in Winterthur, Switzerland. More than 30 applications from 14 European countries were submitted.
Runner-up to winner WeHelpen was the Slovenian company ADORA with their medical image viewer ADORA AssistantTM. The technology addresses the challenges in relation to surgical site infections by allowing surgeons to intraoperatively view and navigate patient scans and data without touching any device and while maintaining a sterile environment. For more information visit: http://www.adora-med.com
