21 April marked World Creativity and Innovation Day, a date that invites reflection on advances in all fields, especially in health.
In this context, Alma Medical stands out as a company that understands that innovation must reach all targets. With a history spanning 20 years, Alma Medical has gone from being a visionary idea in 2005 to becoming an international benchmark in advanced medical imaging solutions,obtaining the Innovative SME seal from the Ministry of Industry and Tourism.
Artificial Intelligence (AI), the incorporation of cloud data usage, and process automation are some key examples of technology’s ability to improve and optimise hospital management. And although there are still significant challenges to overcome in order to implement improvements across the board and globally, the future looks promising.
Artificial intelligence as a driver of transformation in diagnostics
Artificial Intelligence (AI) plays a key role in the global healthcare revolution, and Spain is no exception. AI algorithms enable the analysis and comparison of large medical data sets, the detection of subtle patterns, and facilitate the early detection of diseases.
Alma’s AI efforts not only seek to improve the present, but are also the driving force behind future diagnostics. Thanks to machine learning and predictive analytics, it is possible to anticipate the risk of disease earlier. AI already allows, for example, predict arrhythmias or heart failure by analysing electrocardiograms, so that doctors can intervene early.
All this indicates that AI, when properly implemented, not only speeds up and improves diagnostic accuracy, but also changes the paradigm: from reactive medicine to predictive and preventive medicine.
Optimisation of hospital management and telemedicine
In an environment with multiple data sources and devices, interoperability becomes synonymous with efficiency and quality of care. Alma Medical designs all its solutions in accordance with medical standards (DICOM for images, HL7/FHIR for clinical information, etc.), so that they can be easily integrated into existing hospital infrastructure. This means that Alma’s web viewer, health platform and AI tools can connect to electronic health record systems, imaging equipment from various manufacturers and even mobile devices, without losing any information along the way.
Thanks to this connectivity, professionals have a complete and unified view of the patient, allowing them to jump from a diagnostic image to their clinical report or to the recommendations of an AI algorithm without technological barriers. At Alma, interoperability is not just technical compatibility, but rather a commitment to breaking down information silos and promoting collaborative networking.
In the debate, Alma’s Director General, Raquel Egea, explained how to democratise access to advanced medical technology:
As Raquel Egea explains, in addition to being easy to integrate, Alma’s software is designed to be intuitive, adaptable and scalable, allowing it to be used in hospitals of different sizes and even in regions with technical limitations. The premise is clear: do more with less, so that there are no barriers of high complexity or large investments that hinder the leap to radiological and imaging innovation.
Being pioneers in adopting the cloud in the sector during the pandemic year enabled hospitals and clinics to store large volumes of medical images and data securely and remotely. Today, Alma’s solutions can be deployed both on-premises and in cloud environments, giving each institution the flexibility to choose the optimal model.
The result is greater availability of information: doctors who can consult studies from anywhere, patients who receive results online. This has led to a substantial improvement in continuity of care and the responsiveness of the healthcare system.
Building the future of medical imaging
In an increasingly complex healthcare environment – with an ageing population, a rise in chronic diseases and high pressure on healthcare services – technological creativity is key to anticipating challenges and improving patients’ quality of life. The World Health Organisation has warned that adopting technology without a solid strategy can introduce risks, but Alma Medical understands that the solution lies in implementing innovation in a safe, ethical and patient-centred manner.
Looking to the future, Alma Medical continues to combine medicine, engineering and artificial intelligence with a multidisciplinary team passionate about solving the challenges ahead. The company maintains the philosophy expressed by its founder, Dr Herrero Jover: “The future is to imagine it and build it, always close to the patient.” In other words, innovation is not an end in itself, but a path to achieving more humane, effective and sustainable care.
