INSIGHT
MEXICAN HEALTHCARE INCHES INTO THE DIGITAL FUTURE ULISES BACILIO CEO of Grupo PTM
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Digitalization is making its way across every sector of
are afraid they will not be able to see the image in as much
the health industry. In addition to being environmentally
detail. “They are a dogmatic profession; they are not used
friendly, these solutions save costs and are practical, says
to changing their ways. This is true worldwide, not only in
Ulises Bacilio, CEO of Grupo PTM adding the biggest
Mexico.” The X-card is in use in four hospitals in Mexico:
obstacle is not patients. “Doctors are the greatest resistance
two in Toluca, one in Puebla and one in Cuautla. “Millions
we face,” he says.
of radiographic sheets are still used every year in Mexico. ISSSTE alone spends MX$30 million (US$1.7 million) per
Working in conjunction with global medical imaging giant
year on these sheets,” Bacilio says, adding that eliminating
Phillips, Grupo PTM, a leader in technology solutions for
the radiographic sheet has been the company’s motto and
hospitals, provides interpretations of radiographs that are
mission from the beginning.
delivered digitally in a matter of days. That compares with the months it previously took to get an interpretation to
The company has also digitalized its internal processes,
a patient, especially those in remote areas. The company
shortening its operating cycle by asking for immediate
also provides cloud storage for the interpreted radiographs.
payment and resolving cash flow issues. This has allowed
The X-card, its key product, allows patients to have their
PTM to further invest in its technology and to provide
medical history and images on hand at any point in time,
its customers and ultimately patients with newer, better
no matter where they are in the world.
products and services. PwC predicts the global value of connected health to reach US$61 billion by 2020.
PTM technology has diagnosed over 100,000 mammograms and 7,000 cancers
Another product on offer is the Invox, a voice recorder designed especially for medical professionals that speak Mexican Spanish. It uses linguistic analysis to automatically register keywords and categorize the recording, allowing users to easily search through voice albums at a later date and retrieve data. “We provide updates to the software almost every month, constantly improving the product,” says Bacilio, who believes that digitalization will also allow companies and public-sector institutions to begin
The patented invention consists of a credit card-sized
collecting data on the services they offer and that they
plastic card that bears a unique code. The patient can scan
will be able to analyze it and put it to good use, to better
this code or enter it into the Grupo PTM website to instantly
serve patient needs.
access their medical images and share them with their specialist of choice. In addition to being environmentally
Grupo PTM works with over 400 clients in every Mexican
friendly, these solutions save costs and are practical. “A
state, ranging from small clinics to large hospitals. As of
patient can load all his studies onto the card and it can
December 2016, over 100,000 mammograms and 7,000
be read with a simple QR scanner on a cellphone,” says
cancers had been diagnosed through PTM’s technology. The
Ulises Bacilio, CEO of Grupo PTM. If a patient loses the card,
volume of clients it works with has allowed the company to
he only needs to inform the company, which cancels the
begin compiling statistics. “The data we collect could be
code and reissues a new card and code. Despite the many
useful for clinical research. For example, there are many
benefits, implementing digital solutions is not always easy.
gastrointestinal cancers, in particular in Hidalgo,” says
“Patients rapidly accept innovations such as the X-card.
Bacilio. “We also realized that Tuesday is the busiest day
They find it amazing,” says Bacilio, explaining that doctors
of the week for medical appointments in Mexico.”