Decrease in Diagnosis Time
Increase in Patients Diagnosed
Diagnostic Boards Organized Online
Boehringer Ingelheim is one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies—and the largest private one—focusing on therapeutic areas such as respiratory diseases, metabolism, immunology, oncology, and central nervous system disorders. In this project, they collaborated with pulmonology experts from four major centers of excellence to tackle the challenges of diagnosing idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).
IPF is a rare, deadly lung disease with no known cure and a complex diagnostic process. The patient journey—from initial suspicion to diagnosis and treatment—can take months or even years. With only a small fraction of patients reaching a timely and accurate diagnosis, the need for a digital solution that accelerates access to expertise became critical.
Delayed Diagnosis
Only 0.5% of IPF patients reach a correct diagnosis in time, with 50% misdiagnosed once and one-third misdiagnosed twice. The traditional process—from the first HR-CT to a confirmed diagnosis—can take 12 to 16 months.
Limited Access to Expertise
Patients often struggle to connect with the right specialists quickly. Navigating the system means months of waiting and multiple investigations before a definitive diagnosis is reached.
Inefficient Patient Journey
The lengthy diagnostic process not only delays treatment but also hinders the patient’s overall experience and outcomes.
Delayed Diagnosis
Only 0.5% of IPF patients reach a correct diagnosis in time, with 50% misdiagnosed once and one-third misdiagnosed twice. The traditional process—from the first HR-CT to a confirmed diagnosis—can take 12 to 16 months.
Limited Access to Expertise
Patients often struggle to connect with the right specialists quickly. Navigating the system means months of waiting and multiple investigations before a definitive diagnosis is reached.
Inefficient Patient Journey
The lengthy diagnostic process not only delays treatment but also hinders the patient’s overall experience and outcomes.
In 2020, during the COVID pandemic, Medicai partnered with Boehringer Ingelheim and pulmonology experts from four centers of excellence to transform the diagnostic pathway for IPF.
Accelerated Diagnostic Process
In 2020, during the COVID pandemic, Medicai partnered with Boehringer Ingelheim and pulmonology experts from four centers of excellence to transform the diagnostic pathway for IPF.
Virtual Multidisciplinary Collaboration
Medicai organized numerous online diagnostic boards throughout 2022. These virtual meetings enabled experts from various specialties to review imaging data, share insights, and reach consensus on therapeutic recommendations—all without the need for physical meetings.
Expanded Access to Expert Opinions
By integrating with four centers of excellence, the solution doubled the number of patients diagnosed and ensured that a large network of specialists could collaborate effectively. This network supports streamlined, expert evaluations for every case.
“We used to meet regularly, every 2-3 weeks, together with other colleagues that deal with cases of diffuse interstitial pneumonia, in the amphitheater. At these meetings, we would present the patient cases and discuss them. Due to the pandemic, we had to cancel these meetings. Medicai offered us the alternative to hold these meetings online. Within the platform, we also have access to medical imaging investigations. Recently, Medicai added the option to sign documents online. So, for each case, a joint decision is taken in the multidisciplinary commission. This decision is included in a diagnosis document that is signed electronically by all participants.”
Irina Strâmbu
Primary Care Pulmonologist, Expert Pulmonologist with IPF/ILDs
Cloud-Based Diagnostic Boards
Enables real-time, online multidisciplinary discussions, streamlining the diagnostic process and allowing experts to review patient imaging data instantly.
Remote Access to Patient Data
With full integration of imaging (CT scans, HR-CT, etc.) into a secure cloud platform, doctors can access critical patient information from anywhere—accelerating decision-making even during challenging times like the COVID pandemic.
Digital Workflow & Document Integration
Facilitates secure sharing of medical documents and enables digital signing of diagnostic forms, ensuring that every step of the patient journey—from suspicion to treatment—is managed efficiently and in compliance with data protection standards.
By implementing Medicai’s innovative digital solutions, Boehringer Ingelheim and its pulmonology experts have drastically reduced the diagnosis time for IPF—from 12 months to 3–4 months—while doubling the number of patients diagnosed and facilitating numerous online diagnostic boards. This transformation not only improves the patient journey but also sets a replicable standard for managing other rare diseases.
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Investigations
Medical ImagingPET CT ScanMRI ScanCT ScanMammogramsAngiographyMR AngiographyUltrasoundDEXA Scans
