Franck Willemain has been a consultant for Medsphere, the Evolucare Group’s PAM (Patient Administration Manager), for over 15 years. He has implemented the PAM more than 100 times in clinical, hospital, and private practices in both the healthcare and medico-social fields. He has also participated in several installations of the WinPharm pharmacy management solution.
In 2018, he became ¨PAM Product Manager. Today, he answers numerous questions about his work within the Group and the current strategic challenges surrounding the evolution of the french healthcare ecosystem (INS, RNIV, CDRi, etc.).
The role of the Product Manager
Can you tell us more about your role as a product manager?
FW: It encompasses many aspects: These include drafting functional specifications that will then be developed to meet customer needs, but also to ensure product compliance; I monitor regulatory developments in the areas for which I am responsible. I also write documentation for customers and fact sheets that will be used by our consultants.
What sources are used for this regulatory monitoring?
FW : Nos sources principales d’informations pour les enjeux nationaux sont :
- The Sesam vitale economic interest group, from which we regularly receive newsletters, emails, notifications, etc.
- The DGOS (Directorate General for Healthcare Provision), with whom we hold regular meetings to understand trends, reforms, etc.
- The ATIH (Technical Agency for Information on Hospital Care) for everything related to the PMSI (Integrated Medical-Social Information System).
- And now the ANS (Digital Health Agency) for information on the INS, as it is an important point of contact for publishers. It supports us in implementing the INSi teleservice and in using the RNIV.
- Our customer base is also a valuable source of information for managing more regional regulatory aspects.
Has the pandemic had an impact on the needs identified?
FW: Yes, the pandemic has affected around 50 of our radiotherapy center clients. We had to maintain a consultation link through crucial updates which, thanks to new versions, enabled remote consultations. Telemedicine has been in high demand from our clients in SSR and radiotherapy in particular.
In terms of regulations, we are going to integrate a new PMSI file format (FICHSUP PCR) to record all tests and nomenclatures, such as ICD-10, which have changed.
The Group in its market
Which customers are equipped with Medsphère GAP?
FW: Today, more than 700 establishments (FINESS geographical codes) are equipped with the Medsphère application and more than 80 use Osiris Programmation. For GAP Medsphère, our customers are mainly healthcare and medico-social establishments, with strong growth in the disability sector. As for Osiris Programmation, these are mainly follow-up care and rehabilitation facilities.
Do we have any competition in the field of GAP? What is our positioning?
FW: The key advantage of GAP Medsphère is its ability to manage large accounts and small organizations in fields ranging from healthcare (medicine, rehabilitation, psychology) to nursing homes and disability services, with a wide variety of care options, all within a single database and a single software environment. To my knowledge, there is no other product offering this level of functional coverage.
Upcoming developments
Do current government projects such as the Ségur healthcare reform, the HOP’EN program, ESMS Numérique, and more broadly, the “acceleration of the digital transition,” have an impact on GAP?
FW: GAP Medsphère covers healthcare, medical-social services, and private practice. The product is therefore subject to regular and significant regulatory pressure. The digital shift is only increasing this pressure. For example, INSi is a core component of Ma Santé 2022; an interconnection with Doctolib enables us to meet one of the HOP’EN prerequisites for appointment scheduling; emergency room reform is on the agenda for the end of the year; and the change in funding for SSR facilities in 2022 will also be a major undertaking.
What are the next major developments for Medsphère?
FW: We are currently developing a GDPR module to help our customers implement the essential requirements imposed by this regulation. We will then move on to the ROC (AMC teleservices) and SCOR (dematerialization of S3404) projects. The application is also being converted to a web-based platform.
Thanks to Franck for sharing his expertise!