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Description
PAWUL’s mission is to support patients in regaining their fitness as soon as possible through comprehensive rehabilitation based on the latest global trends. Currently we conduct about 350-500 physiotherapy treatments per month.
The project objective is to create the eFizjo platform - a telemedical system to manage physiotherapy services. The aim is to improve the work of physiotherapists and enhance the quality of services for elderly and disabled people being the main recipients of these services. The system with access to a mobile application will improve physiotherapists’ work management and the collection of patient information in one file. It will also analyse and support the physiotherapist’s career development process by offering adjusted training. Patients will be able to view data about their treatments, home exercise recommendations, etc. Innovative algorithms will support the patient rehabilitation process by analysing progress and suggesting home physiotherapy sessions. During on-line self-rehabilitation the patient will be able to use workspace shared with the physiotherapist and/or other treatment participants – it is an important aspect that facilitates knowledge transfer and experience sharing. eFizjo will also enable mobilization of people from groups often excluded from physiotherapy treatments, through information programs addressed to patients. The programmes will show to the patients where and how they can get access to physiotherapy services of a selected type.
Under the project, the eFizjo platform will be developed in terms of content and IT. Our plan is to also launch it in Scandinavian countries, as we cooperate with a group of physiotherapists providing services in Norway and Sweden.
Summary of project results
“e-Fizjo: A Comprehensive Platform for Physiotherapy Services” aimed to address issues related to inefficiencies and errors in the management of physiotherapy services.
The key problems that the project tackled through the implementation of the e-Fizjo platform included:
scheduling services and planning consistent appointments;
tracking the completion of services, including confirming whether a service was provided;
difficulties in establishing a unified, cohesive calendar, with no single place where information is stored;
billingfor completed treatments;
lack of information about the history of conducted therapy, particularly in cases of therapist changes;
problem with not having access to a schedule by patients therapy plan, or home exercise instructions, with everything traditionally shared through verbal communication or handwritten notes.
The project primarily addressed patient-related issues, such as:
lack of general information on service availability;
lack of information on where to book a treatment;
lack of knowledge on how to choose a physiotherapist (clinics often assign therapists randomly);
lack of understanding about the coverage and extent of treatment reimbursements;
lack of information on specific specialists – no central location for patient reviews and information about physiotherapists;
general lack of knowledge about physiotherapy, such as how to prepare for in-clinic physiotherapy or at-home therapy;
no option for online consultations or any form of interaction with a physiotherapist.
The project also aimed to investigate and overcome legal barriers and challenges related to market entry, both locally and internationally.
The project included several key activities aimed at developing and launching a comprehensive platform for managing physiotherapy services, named “e-Fizjo.”
The activities included:
1. Consulting services focused on developing the online platform.
2. Consulting services for substantive consultation (with a research institution) on the developed online platform.
As part of the consulting services for developing the online platform, a business concept was created, the functional e-Fizjo solution was built, tests were conducted, training was provided, integration with external systems (e-Zdrowie) and the e-Fizjo mobile application took place, the website was launched, and further tests were conducted.
Under the substantive consulting services in collaboration with a research institution, procedures for exercise execution were evaluated, and informational materials for both patients and physiotherapists were verified.
The project’s result is the market launch of the e-Fizjo platform, which meets the needs of all target groups—patients with disabilities, physiotherapists, and entities ordering rehabilitation services.
The platform was commercialized in cooperation with a research and development center (AWFiS Universität in Gdansk ) and positively impacts the management of physiotherapists'' work, the billing of completed visits by ordering entities, and enhances the quality of rehabilitation services for patients through the implemented functionalities that operate within computational algorithms and intelligent BI (Business Intelligence) systems.
The e-Fizjo platform meets the definition of technological innovation, providing an innovative solution and service, and it positively influences the local community by promoting professional activation of the physiotherapy group.
e-Fizjo was created and launched on the market.
The project’s implementation positively contributed to the principle of sustainable development through the project’s execution approach. Project documentation was managed electronically.
The e-Fizjo platform contributed to environmental protection and resource efficiency by helping mitigate the effects of climate change, thus impacting environmental conservation.
The innovative e-Fizjo electronic platform significantly reduced the use of paper documentation. Most medical records, as well as every interaction between target groups and the Applicant’s company, take place through the e-Fizjo platform, with either complete elimination or substantial reduction of the previous reliance on paper for exchanging documentation, information, statements, therapeutic recommendations, and more.
Furthermore, the logistical optimization functionalities of the e-Fizjo system, aimed at reducing travel distances between appointments, contribute to reduced fuel consumption, which in turn correlates with lower CO2 emissions.
Communication activities were carried out. Project information was published on the websites https://rehabilitacja-pomorze.pl/ and https://solvisio.pl/. Photos, videos, updates on project progress, results, and contact information were shared on these websites. At the project site, an informational poster was displayed, and all project-related documents carried the Norwegian Funds logo.
The project’s opening conference took place on May 24, 2022, titled “Physiotherapy: How to Be in Shape with Oneself – Movement Can Substitute Almost Any Medicine, but All Medicines Together Cannot Substitute Movement.” The presentation was held at a congress in Gdańsk on “A Holistic Approach to a Healthy Lifestyle.” During the congress, Urszula Habowska spoke about physiotherapy and the role of the e-Fizjo application, which is intended primarily for patients.
A closing conference for the project was held on April 18, 2024, where the project results were presented, and the e-Fizjo application was demonstrated.
Throughout the project, the beneficiary continuously informed patients and collaborating physiotherapists about project progress, the expected outcome, and the functionalities available in the e-Fizjo application. The beneficiary also implemented an information-promotion strategy focused on raising awareness of physiotherapy services and their accessibility among people with disabilities, chronic illnesses, and the elderly. Additionally, they promoted the e-Fizjo platform, showcasing its benefits to potential users.
The beneficiary collaborated with the academic and research institution, the Academy of Physical Education and Sport in Gdańsk, named after Jędrzej Śniadecki, which provided research services and served as a substantive consultant for the e-Fizjo platform. Moreover, the beneficiary collaborated with the Health College in Gdańsk, where students, including those from rehabilitation and physiotherapy programs, were informed about the project’s progress throughout its duration.
On May 15, 2024, a conference titled “Geriatrics and Accessibility Program for People with Disabilities – Legal and Social Aspects” was held at the Health College in Gdańsk, where the project results and the advantages of the e-Fizjo platform were presented.
As part of the project, the e-Fizjo physiotherapy services platform was successfully developed and launched. The platform serves as a tool to enhance the quality of rehabilitation services provided to patients.
The key outcomes are:
1. Increased Competitive Advantage: PAWUL – Urszula Habowska strengthened her market position by introducing an innovative product that integrates various functions for managing rehabilitation services, setting a new standard in the medical technology industry.
2. Improved Accessibility of Rehabilitation Services: Patients now have greater access to services through the platform, which directly impacts their quality of life.
3. Streamlined Physiotherapist Work: The e-Fizjo platform allows physiotherapists to monitor and manage visit schedules, efficiently update patient medical records, and make adjustments to treatment plans as needed.
4. Enhanced Service Quality: Physiotherapists and entities ordering physiotherapy services can maintain medical documentation in compliance with legal requirements, access detailed records of treatments conducted for each patient, and have a real-time view of ongoing therapy. This allows for continuity of care, even when therapists change, as well as the automatic generation of treatment summaries for billing purposes. Additionally, the platform provides access to data through Business Intelligence (BI) tools, allowing for therapy adjustments based on current information. The platform also improves physiotherapist working conditions by ensuring patients are prepared for home visits and offers self-improvement suggestions based on survey feedback.
5. Commercialization of the Platform (Innovation): The e-Fizjo platform has been successfully commercialized and is now available on the market, providing users with an advanced tool for managing physiotherapy services accessible nationwide, thereby increasing access to specialists and rehabilitation services.
The main beneficiaries are:
1. Patients: Through the e-Fizjo platform, patients can order rehabilitation services and have access to exercise videos and instructions.
2. Physiotherapists: With the e-Fizjo platform, physiotherapists can manage visit schedules, update patient medical records, and bill for completed visits.
3. Entities Ordering Physiotherapy Services: These entities can use the platform to bill for ordered treatments, manage physiotherapists’ work from scheduling to planning visit routes, monitor treatments performed for patients, and ensure that the assigned physiotherapist has the appropriate qualifications for the specific treatments required.