The Virtual Hospital digital platform of the Centre for Biomedical and Healthcare Engineering (CIS) is an infrastructure of excellence dedicated to the creation of digital twins for healthcare environments. A true organizational simulation laboratory, it allows for the modeling, testing, and optimization of hospital workflows and care pathways in a secure virtual environment before their actual deployment.
By integrating real-time data and artificial intelligence algorithms, the Virtual Hospital offers strategic decision-making support for crisis management, operational efficiency, and improving the patient experience.
Strategic Objectives
- Optimize Flows and Resources
Model the utilization of operating rooms, beds, and staff to eliminate bottlenecks. - Reduce Waiting Times
Reorganize pathways (emergency, chemotherapy, consultations) to improve fluidity and patient comfort. - Crisis Management and Resilience
Simulate complex scenarios (pandemics, white plans, major floods) to anticipate capacity needs. - Personalized Care Pathways
Use data science to predict care trajectories and the risk of rehospitalization. - Support Digital Transition
Develop operational prototypes (up to TRL 7) for healthcare institutions.
Equipment & Digital Infrastructure
The platform relies on high computing power and advanced visualization tools:
- High-Performance Computing Servers
Clusters dedicated to massive simulation and secure database servers. - Extended Reality (XR) Devices
Virtual reality (Oculus) and augmented reality (HoloLens) headsets for immersive visualization of flows and training. - IoT and Sensors
Integration of electronic devices (Arduino, Raspberry Pi, IMU) for real-time physical flow monitoring.
Expert Software Tools
- Mathematical Optimization
IBM ILOG CPLEX for solving complex linear problems (planning). - Flow Simulation
AnyLogic, FlexSim, Arena (discrete event and agent-based simulation). - Process Modeling
ARIS for business process analysis (BPM).
Examples of Concrete Applications
- Integrated Planning
Optimization of outpatient chemotherapy appointments and dynamic operating room management. - Emergency Services
Algorithms for predicting emergency readmissions within 72 hours and organizing work shifts. - Life Pathways
Predictive modeling of frailty evolution in seniors and resource sizing for Home Hospitalization (HAD). - Territory
Assessment of regional healthcare autonomy in the event of a natural disaster.
Partnerships and Impact
The Virtual Hospital digital platform relies on strategic partnerships with key players in healthcare, research, and industry to maximize its impact:
- Healthcare institutions: collaboration with hospitals and clinics to test and refine solutions in real conditions.
- Research laboratories: scientific exchanges with leading teams in digital health, artificial intelligence, and modeling.
- Industrial partners: cooperation with technology companies to develop and integrate innovative solutions.
The expected impact includes:
- Improved hospital resource management, contributing to cost reduction and increased care efficiency.
- An improvement in patients’ quality of life, thanks to faster diagnoses and optimized care pathways.
- A significant contribution to the digital transition of healthcare systems, strengthening their resilience in the face of health crises.
Contact
The Virtual Hospital digital platform is part of the MedTechLab® platform, aiming to integrate advanced digital technologies to shape the medicine of tomorrow.