An ageing population, growing demand for medical care and, at the same time, a declining number of skilled professionals: demographic change is posing major challenges for the German healthcare system. Rural regions and districts without their own maximum-care hospitals are particularly affected. The role that modern medical technology can play in addressing these challenges was the focus of a visit to Fraunhofer IMTE in Lübeck by District Administrator Dr Christoph Mager and Dr Kaschlin Butt, Head of the Public Health Department of the Herzogtum Lauenburg district.

During discussions with Institute Director Prof. Dr Thorsten Buzug, particular attention was given to how robotics, automation, artificial intelligence and point-of-care technologies can help relieve the burden on healthcare professionals while ensuring high-quality healthcare provision across rural areas.

“For a predominantly rural district, the key question is how we can continue to ensure high-quality medical care as close to people's homes as possible. Demographic change is increasing the demand for healthcare while, at the same time, skilled professionals are in short supply. New technologies can help us make medical expertise more widely available across the region,” emphasizes District Administrator Dr Christoph Mager.

One important approach is the further decentralization of medical services. Point-of-care diagnostics enable examinations to be carried out directly where they are needed. This also makes Fraunhofer IMTE's research approaches highly relevant to emergency medical services. Combined with telemedicine and AI-supported decision-making, specialized medical expertise can be made available beyond major medical centres. At the same time, robotics and automation can relieve healthcare professionals of standardized and physically demanding tasks.

“We will not be able to address the consequences of demographic change simply by increasing staffing levels. We also need to rethink how healthcare is organized and supported by technology. The combination of robotics, AI and point-of-care technologies offers considerable potential, particularly for regions without maximum-care hospitals,” explains Prof. Dr Thorsten Buzug, Director of Fraunhofer IMTE.

The subsequent laboratory tour provided insights into specific research approaches. At the Lübeck Innovation Hub for Robotic Surgery (LIROS), the focus was on robot-assisted, automated and AI-supported procedures. Further stops included additive manufacturing and the accredited CT testing laboratory, as well as the AI Motion Labs, where sensor technology, robotics and AI are combined for motion analysis and rehabilitation.

The exchange also ties in with the BMFTR-funded innovation community GRANNI (Healthy and Resilient Ageing through Sustainable Medical Technology from the Northern German Hanse Innovation Community). The initiative develops new socio-technical solutions to address the consequences of demographic change, taking a holistic approach spanning prevention, diagnostics and therapy through to rehabilitation.

The visit highlighted the importance of close collaboration between local authorities, healthcare providers, research institutions and industry to ensure that new technologies are aligned with the specific requirements of regional healthcare provision at an early stage.

Press Contact:

Sandy Bever
sandy.bever@imte.fraunhofer.de

Fraunhofer Research Institution for Individualized Medical Technology and Engineering IMTE
Mönkhofer Weg 239a, 23562 Lübeck