Medical Center – University of Freiburg is a founding member of MEDI:CUS

Shaping the Digital Future of Health Care in Baden-Württemberg Together

Today, with the founding of the MEDI:CUS e.V. association, an important milestone was reached in the digitization of the healthcare system in Baden-Württemberg. The Medical Center – University of Freiburg is one of the founding members of the new association and is thus actively shaping the digital future of medical care in close collaboration with many other clinical care facilities. In addition to technical innovation, MEDI:CUS is setting new standards, particularly in cross-institutional collaboration. Prof. Dr. Frederik Wenz, Chief Medical Officer of the Medical Center – University of Freiburg, is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of MEDI:CUS e.V. Dr. Michael Kraus, Chief Information Officer of the Medical Center – University of Freiburg, serves on the association’s Executive Committee. The Executive Committee is the association’s central decision-making body. 

The MEDI:CUS platform marks the first time a multi-cloud-based, secure, data-protection-compliant, and highly flexible digital infrastructure has been created for hospitals, research institutions, and other healthcare stakeholders, one that relies on a modern stack architecture. Through easily accessible digital solutions, the consistent application of standards, and standardized processes, MEDI:CUS will help organizations leverage the opportunities of digitalization at scale and free up local resources from non-medical tasks. This will allow hospitals to focus even more strongly on their core mission: providing care to patients. The initiative was launched by the State of Baden-Württemberg in collaboration with numerous hospitals and universities.

As a founding member, theMedical Center – University of Freiburg is actively involved in the strategic development of the entire MEDI:CUS ecosystem. The shared goal is to introduce innovations more quickly, make IT structures future-proof, and further strengthen collaboration within the healthcare system across institutions and sectors.

“Digitalization is a crucial factor for modern and efficient healthcare. Through our involvement with MEDI:CUS, we are sending a clear signal in favor of innovation, collaboration, and future-readiness. Together, we are creating digital structures that make our employees’ work easier and, above all, benefit our patients. That is why we are pleased to play an active role in shaping the development of MEDI:CUS as a founding member,” says Wenz. 

“MEDI:CUS is a strong symbol of the healthcare sector’s collective digital transformation in Baden-Württemberg. The cloud-based and interoperable data platform enables better integration of care, research, and medical progress, as well as sustainable healthcare in the state,” explains Heiner Scheffold, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Baden-Württemberg Hospital Association (BWKG). “Consolidated digital infrastructures and IT services reinforce uniform standards and reduce the burden on hospitals, allowing them to focus on providing high-quality and reliable care to their patients.”

Association’s Leadership Structure Elected

During the founding event, the members of the association’s Board of Directors were also elected. The Board of Directors consists of:

• Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Frederik Wenz (Chairman of the Board of Directors), Chief Medical Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Medical Center – University of Freiburg,
• Prof. Dr. Dr. Martin Holderried, Medical Director of the Karlsruhe Municipal Hospital,
• Wolfgang Schmid, Commercial Managing Director of Alb Fils Klinikum GmbH.

The composition of the Board of Directors simultaneously represents the various types and sizes of healthcare facilities and, together with the members, will shape the strategic development of MEDI:CUS for the benefit of all.

Advancing Digitalization Together

MEDI:CUS stands for a new approach to collaboration in the healthcare sector. Instead of procuring or developing solutions within individual institutions, digital services will be jointly established and operated in the future. This strengthens interoperability, enhances IT security, and creates the conditions necessary to responsibly utilize health data for care, research, and innovation. The participating institutions are thus jointly assuming responsibility for an efficient digital healthcare system in Baden-Württemberg.

About MEDI:CUS

Over the past two years, as part of the MEDI:CUS project, the state has worked with hospitals in Baden-Württemberg and other partners to establish a vendor-neutral, cloud-based platform architecture for the easy procurement of applications and services. The goal is to overcome the highly fragmented IT landscape in the healthcare sector and enable the long-term exchange and use of health data. The project, initiated under the umbrella of the “Forum Gesundheitsstandort Baden-Württemberg,” was funded on an interagency basis with approximately 25 million euros by the Ministries of Social Affairs, Science, and Economic Affairs. The Ministry of the Interior and Digitalization was entrusted with leading the implementation. In March, the cabinet approved the future operating structure, consisting of an association and an operational limited liability company (GmbH). Today, the association was officially established as the long-term governing body of the MEDI:CUS platform.

Images are available here:https://im.baden-wuerttemberg.de/de/service/mediathek