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On October 31, 2019, Minister Bauer visited the Simulation Center and the Interdisciplinary Tumor Center at the University Medical Center Freiburg and exchanged ideas with students and instructors

Experts discussed the opportunities and risks of digitalization and artificial intelligence with her

On Thursday, October 31, 2019, Theresia Bauer, Minister of Science, Research and the Arts Baden-Württemberg, visited the University Medical Center Freiburg. The visit focused on three aspects: The further development of teaching in medical studies and nursing training, state-of-the-art patient care using the example of the Interdisciplinary Tumour Centre (ITZ) and a discussion about the opportunities and risks of digitalization.

"The University Medical Center Freiburg guarantees training, research and patient care at the highest level. The simulation center offers students the best environment to put the theory they have learned into practice. The further development of teaching in medical studies and nursing training with the help of such facilities is of great importance, as it ensures the very high quality of training for Freiburg graduates. The new ITZ building also confirms Freiburg's outstanding position in German university medicine. The networking of research data, care data and mobile patient data is an important key to medical innovations that benefit patients," said Science Minister Theresia Bauer.

In the simulation center at Freiburg University Medical Center, students practiced anesthesiological care during an operation on a life-size artificial patient. In addition, future doctors used virtual reality and special equipment to train precise hand-eye-monitor coordination for minimally invasive procedures in the abdominal cavity and on the joints. The simulation center is one of many building blocks that help Freiburg medical students regularly achieve above-average exam results. Innovative concepts to strengthen nursing training were also presented, in which healthcare and nursing trainees manage a ward for a few weeks under close supervision or take responsibility for young patients together with future doctors. Students from the Open Medical Student Council discussed patient-oriented teaching and the practical year with Minister Bauer.

A tour of the Interdisciplinary Tumor Center at Freiburg University Medical Center, which opened at the beginning of 2019, provided insights into the paperless hospital. A digital guidance system guides patients individually to their examinations. Mobile devices direct patients' requests to the right contact person and help them keep an eye on their health data wherever they are. The patient infotainment system was also demonstrated, which uses tablets at the bedside to provide interesting facts about the hospital stay as well as various communication and entertainment options.

Finally, Minister Bauer discussed the opportunities and possibilities offered by digitalization and artificial intelligence in medicine with scientists and doctors from the University Hospital and the University of Freiburg. Topics included the automated preparation and analysis of tumor genetic material, the use of virtual reality to plan operations and the technical principles and ethical aspects of using artificial intelligence in medicine.

"Digitalized processes offer us the opportunity to improve the quality of treatment, tap into treatment data for the development of new therapies, network the individual players in the healthcare system more closely and reduce documentation costs. This gives us more time for personal discussions with patients. This is why we are consistently driving forward this pioneering development at the University Medical Center Freiburg," said Professor Dr. Frederik Wenz, Chief Medical Director of the University Medical Center Freiburg, summarizing the importance of digitalization in medical research, treatment and teaching.

Picture caption: Science Minister Theresia Bauer (right) at the endoscopy trainer in the simulation center of the University Medical Center Freiburg.
Image rights: University Medical Center Freiburg