MEDICA TECH FORUM illuminates the trends in medical technology – English language programme for the international public
This year MEDICA TECH FORUM, an integral part of the world's largest medical trade fair MEDICA in Düsseldorf, will again address a wide range of topical medical technology themes in its seminars in Hall 12, some of them in English for the numerous professional visitors from around the world. The programme was developed in a close cooperation between the industry associations ZVEI, SPECTARIS and the “MEDICA – German Association for Interdisciplinary Medicine”, with a changing focus every day.
At MEDICA 2012 (14 - 17 November), the opening day programme of MEDICA TECH FORUM will focus on international procurement concepts and global competitiveness. It will start with a highlight: a politically based discussion moderated by Michael Opoczynski of the German television station ZDF dealing with the national strategic process "Innovations in Medical Technology" with high-level politicians from various federal ministries (Federal Ministry of Education and Research BMBF, Federal Ministry of Health BMG and Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology BMWi). Ernst Burghaber (parliamentary undersecretary at the BMWi), Thomas Ilka (undersecretary at the BMG) and Dr. Georg Schütte (undersecretary at the BMBF) together with the chairmen of the industry associations ZVEI, BVMed, VDGH and SPECTARIS will discuss the current status of the inter-departmental strategic process to reinforce the German medical sector and to increase the efficiency and quality of health care.
The English language programme starts on Wednesday with Sustainable Procurement Strategies led by Professor Dr. Hans Schweisfurth, medical director at the Saudi German Hospital in Dubai. In his seminar Dr. Schweisfurth, who has many years of experience as medical superintendent in Germany, compares the different procurement strategies and sustainability concepts of hospitals in the western world with those in the Middle East.
Modern procurement management
On Thursday, the English language theme is Clinical Effectiveness and Patient Outcome: People, Processes and Technologies and deals with the balancing act between increased need for medical supplies on the one hand and limited resources on the other. Professor Dr. Dr. Wilfried von Eiff, director of the Centre for Hospital Management in Münster, will lead the seminar. It will identify key factors in medical quality such as the smooth running of clinical processes, acceptable operating costs, and patient satisfaction. Von Eiff will demonstrate that the average annual cost increases of 4.5% in hospitals cannot be offset with price-conscious purchasing policies or with staff cutbacks without seriously jeopardising health care. Select management tools that are proven solutions in industry and in European hospitals will be presented. The German language lectures will, in connection with innovation and life cycle management, illuminate particularly relevant aspects such as service contracts, recruitment of professionals and even the protection of intellectual property (key word: product piracy).
The challenge of hospital hygiene
Friday will focus on hospital hygiene. Multiresistant Pathogens: Challenges and Solutions for Clinical Microbiology, Hospital Hygiene and Patient Care is the theme of the English language seminar designed by Professor Dr. Klaus Pfeffer, director of the Department of Medical Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene at the University of Düsseldorf. The increasing resistance of micro-organisms to antibiotics represents a huge challenge for the health care system. Consequently, new concepts and solutions for preventing hospital infections and the spread of multi-resistant pathogens are urgently needed. The seminar will present advanced strategies for ultra-quick detection, epidemiological surveillance and the elimination of such pathogens in patients, hospitals and medical products. Concrete approaches for practical application are also provided in the German language lectures, e.g. "Preparation of Complex Medical Products from the Aspect of Hygiene and Function" by Robert Schrödel, CEO of Pioneer Medical Devices AG.
Innovation management
On Saturday, Director of Medical Technology Ir. Thérèse Schölvinck of the European Patent Office will provide information on everything innovators need to know about patent registration and knowledge management: Patents: What innovators in Medical Technology need to know. Academic research is increasingly cooperating with partners from industry and technology transfer institutions that have a strong interest in the commercial exploitation of inventions and research results. At the same time, there is still a great lack of information on how to protect intellectual property and how the huge quantity of information in patent databases can be optimally utilized. The seminar will provide scientists and business partners with insight into the world of patents, with special focus on the European patent system. In addition to a practical introduction to the registration of patents, targeted searches in the patent literature will also be explained, including patent classification systems and databases.
For information on MEDICA 2012, the programmes of the conventions and forums (e.g. MEDICA TECH FORUM), visit: http://www.medica.de
