The Rofim telemedicine platform
One of the key objectives of the “My Health 2022” bill is to leverage digital technology for sharing health information. Rofim, the telemedicine platform created in 2018 by Dr. David Bensoussan, perfectly aligns with this national goal.
Platform Features
The Rofim platform offers numerous features: first, it is equipped with a collaborative telemedicine module, including a tele-expertise and teleconsultation solution. “This allows for real-time specialist opinions and avoids endless back-and-forth communication for complex cases,” explains Dr. Bensoussan. There is also a second module, e-RCP (Multidisciplinary Team Meeting), which enables Multidisciplinary Team Meetings through secure messaging and the exchange of electronic patient records. Professor Frédéric Sebag, a general surgeon and endocrinologist at the Conception Hospital in Marseille (AP-HM), confirms this: “In oncology, coordination meetings are essential for discussing cases with colleagues from other regions. The DCC (Shared Cancer Record), in particular, has greatly facilitated the coordination of healthcare professionals by promoting the exchange of medical data.”
An interoperable tool
“The platform was designed for healthcare facilities, in SaaS mode, allowing for high interoperability with hospital information systems,” explains the director. Indeed, the primary objective is to enable different departments to work collaboratively across departments. Jérôme Taïeb, head of the cardiology department at the Aix-en-Provence hospital, adds that “interoperability is optimal with the department’s computer graphics and imaging equipment.” Regarding appointment scheduling, the platform uses the healthcare facility’s usual channels. The patient books a slot directly on the hospital’s calendar, without having to go through Rofim. Reports, invoices, and prescriptions are then automatically uploaded to the patient’s electronic health record (EHR). “It’s a completely automated information flow, and it doesn’t change the patient’s routine. The tool also adapts to practitioners, thanks to the various workflows we’ve developed […]. It’s the tool that adapts to the users, not the other way around,” says Dr. Bensoussan.
Secure Information Sharing
The founder of Rofim explains the origins of the platform: “The demand came from the field […]. There was no secure tool for sharing a patient file or requesting a practitioner’s opinion.” Indeed, the sharing of health data must comply with current regulations, particularly the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Now, “the platform allows us to send ECGs, imaging, and files that were initially very large […] Our conversations are secure, tracked, and meet the requirements of the CNIL (French Data Protection Authority),” explains Dr. Taïeb, head of the department. In fact, securing health data is a priority at Rofim. “The platform’s data is stored in an HDS-certified infrastructure, and external companies audit our cybersecurity maturity level annually,” specifies Dr. Bensoussan. But the tool remains very user-friendly. Each healthcare professional has their own dashboard, with notifications and messaging. “Healthcare professionals who need a medical opinion send a message and the patient’s file via messaging to the recipient. It’s then possible to schedule a time to discuss it; it’s really simple,” explains Dr. Jérôme Taïeb.
The Future of Rofim and Telemedicine
Today, Rofim has no fewer than 700 registered Finess numbers. The platform also manages the telemedicine needs of three GCSs (Groupements de Coopération Sanitaire – Healthcare Cooperation Groups), which demonstrates the real connection between community and hospital care and the professionals’ interest in communicating with each other. Professor Sebag summarizes this as “the democratization of access to expertise.” For his part, Dr. Taïeb emphasizes the current mismatch between the demand for and supply of healthcare: “Soon, everything that isn’t urgent will be relegated to the back burner, and access to care will become increasingly difficult.” The development of telemedicine is one of the solutions to address this problem of access to healthcare.
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