Precise and complete physiological parameter monitoring plays a vital role in affecting the outcome of medical care and diagnosis.
Medical institutions today use a variety of physiological monitoring devices. Without a way to integrate these devices, it is difficult to centrally manage patients' physiological data and this puts a burden on healthcare professionals.
To address this, combining traditional physiological parameter monitoring and advanced ICT technologies, BROADSIMS introduces a 5G patient monitoring system featuring multiple physiological parameter sensors and connectivity with all kinds of medical applications and third-party devices. BROADSIMS' solution can significantly improve medical care efficiency and diagnostic accuracy.
A synergy between traditional patient monitoring and ICT technologies improves medical care efficiency and diagnostic accuracy
According to BROADSIMS founder and CEO Dr. Bruce Yu, a recent key trend for the healthcare industry is to develop smarter and higher-performance devices through the integration of ICT technologies with traditional medical devices as a way to improve medical care efficiency and optimize patient experience. In line with the trend, BROADSIMS applied its core strength and expanded physiological monitors commonly seen at hospitals into a smart platform that integrates a wide range of solutions from the healthcare ecosystem.
BROADSIMS' 5G multi-parameter patient monitoring system checks basic physiological signals such as ECG, blood pressure, blood oxygen, and respiratory rate like traditional monitoring devices, and more importantly, it also supports all types of medical apps and third-party hardware through an open platform, allowing one device to monitor multiple physiological signals. Yu added that the system is like a smartphone for medical care. Not only does it have robust fundamental monitoring capabilities but it also features software and hardware expandability to accommodate the wide-ranging needs of different healthcare use scenarios.
Healthcare professionals will greatly benefit from BROADSIMS' innovation, said Yu. They will be able to monitor multiple physiological parameters on a central platform and no longer need to operate several individual devices just to measure and track a patient's physical condition. Physicians have simultaneous access to a patient's complete physiological data, enabling them to make the right diagnosis.
On top of healthcare efficiency improvement, BROADSIMS' 5G multi-parameter patient monitoring system also benefits physiological monitoring device manufacturers. Yu explained that single-feature medical device manufacturers face fierce competition. Even if their devices have been certified, they still struggle to overcome market entry barriers. By integrating with BROADSIMS' solution, the data collected by their devices can realize greater value, giving them another chance to penetrate medical institutions.
Taiwan's positive startup environment supports BROADSIMS' global expansion while its open platform strategy expands application scenarios
Yu revealed that BROADSIMS' ecosystem strategy has generated positive results. The company has actively engaged with ultrasound and video equipment makers for hardware integration on its open platform.
It has also introduced a platform development kit (PDK) for use by medical research and academic institutions around the world to develop new applications. With close collaborations with global manufacturers as well as medical research and academic institutions, BROADSIMS continues to expand the scale and diversity of its ecosystem, hoping to start a positive cycle attracting more partners to get on board.
BROADSIMS' 5G multi-parameter patient monitoring system was put to clinical use at NTU Hospital and Taichung Veterans General Hospital in 2021 and 2022. It officially passed medical device certification in May 2024 and entered the market.
Close to half of the medical centers in Taiwan now use BROADSIMS' 5G multi-parameter patient monitoring system to optimize their healthcare efficiency. For example, Taichung Veterans General Hospital combines the system with mobile communication to continuously monitor the conditions of patients during transit and send the data back to the hospital.
This significantly raises emergency care efficiency and patient safety. The solution also meets the needs of the home critical care program the Taiwan government is actively promoting. It enables the same quality of healthcare outside the hospital setting. Aside from Taiwan, BROADSIMS is applying for medical device certification in Southeast Asia and Europe while exerting efforts toward the US and other overseas markets.
Looking back at the process of developing and bringing the system to market, Yu attributed the success to the BROADSIMS team's effort. He also considered Taiwan's startup environment and TTA's support critical in helping BROADSIMS secure a foothold in the market.
Yu pointed out that with a multitude of accelerators and support programs, Taiwan's startup ecosystem is growing mature. As an important resource provider, TTA incubates startups by offering them opportunities to participate in international exhibitions and bridging them with mentors, media, prospective customers, and investors.
Going forward, BROADSIMS will continue to expand its ecosystem and engage with more partners with its open platform strategy and PDK. Furthermore, it will actively strengthen its collaborations with medical institutions, hoping its robust technological capability coupled with the innovative application model will create a win-win situation for hospitals and patients.