Belgian companies are working tirelessly to enhance digital collaboration across the country to keep up with demand. We take a look at three examples of how organisations in Belgium are delivering on their technological capabilities.
First hospital in Europe to use AI for expedited treatment of pulmonary embolism
Aidoc has announced a pioneering collaboration with the Pulmonary Embolism Response Team (PERT) at UZ Brussel (UZB), becoming the first European hospital to use AI for cross-departmental care coordination, expediting treatment for suspected pulmonary embolism (PE) patients. Aidoc automatically flags suspected positive cases of PE and sends an automatic alert to UZ Brussel’s Pulmonary Embolism Response Team (PERT), allowing for fast multidisciplinary decision-making and rapid delivery of life-saving treatment.
“The use of the new application is a step forward in expediting the treatment of pulmonary embolisms because the Artificial Intelligence (AI) allows the images to be evaluated in a systematic manner according to predefined criteria,” said Frans Van den Bergh, Interventional Radiologist at UZ Brussel.
Pulmonary embolism is the third most common acute cardiovascular syndrome, resulting from a blood clot obstructing a lung artery, and can be swiftly fatal without prompt diagnosis and treatment. Early initiation of treatment is associated with better outcomes, but with hospital admissions on the rise and increased demand for CT scans from emergency departments, rapid communication of results to referring physicians is a constant challenge for radiologists. AI-driven PERT solutions deployed in hospitals in the US have shown great success, resulting in 40% reduction in time-to-treatment and 37% decrease in the length of hospital stays.
“We are thrilled about our ongoing collaboration with Aidoc,” said Marc Noppen, CEO of UZ Brussel. “I’m delighted to witness Aidoc’s AI platform expand beyond radiology, delivering value to other service lines, which promises to bring huge benefits to our patients.”
Aidoc’s always-on AI has already been running at UZB, assessing all chest CT exams for PE and prioritising suspected positive cases in the radiology workflow. Now, when a suspected acute PE case is identified by Aidoc’s AI, PERT members – comprising an interventional radiologist, cardiologist, pulmonologist and intensivist – receive a notification via Aidoc’s mobile app. The notification includes images and clinical data including the right-ventricle-to-left ventricle ratio, an important predictor of adverse outcomes in acute PE. The app’s chat feature allows for secure cross-departmental discussion and for rapid action to be taken. Every step in the imaging workflow — from acquisition and algorithm activation to care escalation – is automatically facilitated by Aidoc’s industry-leading operating system, the Aidoc aiOS.
“As our first partner in Europe, UZ Brussel is no stranger to AI – it was the first to implement our entire suite of Radiology AI solutions and now it is the very first hospital in Europe to deploy AI across service lines to manage and treat acute PE patients,” said Jeremy De Sy, RVP Sales and Innovation Europe at Aidoc. “This innovative approach not only enhances patient care but also sets the stage for a promising future of AI-driven healthcare across Europe.”
Proximus NXT and Belfius extend partnership on connectivity and collaboration services
Proximus NXT, the Enterprise division of the Proximus Group, has announced the renewal of its strategic IT partnership with Belfius, a financial services provider in Belgium. The renewed agreement focuses on driving innovation in network design, connectivity and collaboration. It is a three-year agreement covering the 2024-2026 period.
The renewed agreement between the two Belgian companies puts strong emphasis on innovation and transformation through a variety of solutions.
The implementation of Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) technology, a key enabler in the evolution of Belfius’ workplace and branch connectivity, is exemplary in this respect. With SASE, Belfius will move to a secure and modern solution to support hybrid working, setting the scene for a future-proof workplace.
In terms of connectivity, Proximus NXT will provide SD-WAN, Internet access and cloud connectivity as well as LAN/WLAN services for Belfius’ headquarters, and over 750 banking and insurance branches across the country. This includes the switch to new Wi-Fi 6 access points. The partnership will also modernise local networks to support the needs of Belfius in terms of mobility.
Finally, building on advanced telephony and collaboration services, the agreement will enhance digital collaboration across Belfius’ headquarters, regional sites and branches. This will mainly consist in the transformation of the current telephony platform into a Microsoft Teams Enterprise Voice setup, which will empower users with a complete collaboration hub. Proximus will also provide Belfius with new Digital Meeting Rooms to evolve towards an intuitive and efficient end-user experience.
A dedicated team of Proximus employees is working closely with the Belfius IT teams to prepare the transition to the new target operating model, which contractually enters into force in 2024.
“This contract highlights the strength of our gigabit networks and our comprehensive portfolio for enterprises, ranging from connectivity to security and advanced collaboration,” commented
Anne-Sophie Lotgering, Enterprise Market Lead, Proximus. “It is also an important recognition for our teams, who have worked as close and trusted advisors for Belfius throughout the past decade. We are eager to continue to support Belfius in preparing its IT infrastructure for the future and to guide them on their Digital Transformation and innovation journey.”
Orange Belgium becomes official partner of Team Belgium for Paris 2024 Olympic Games
Orange Belgium, one of the country’s leading telco companies, has been selected as an official partner of Team Belgium for the Olympic Games in Paris in 2024.
Next year, Paris will host the world’s biggest events in sport: the Olympic Games, from July 26 to August 11, and Paralympic Games from August 28 to September 8. Until then, Orange Belgium will support the Olympic athletes in their preparation for and participation in the games. This partnership is aligned with the operator’s ‘Lead the Future’ strategy.
Orange Belgium and the Belgian Olympic and Interfederal Committee (BOIC) share a common commitment to the circular economy and sustainability for a better world. The Olympics are one of the most ethical and sustainable events in sports; Orange Belgium adopts a future-proof ESG enterprise model and commits itself to a net zero carbon status by 2040.
As official telco partner of Team Belgium, the Olympic Games are a unique opportunity for Orange Belgium to demonstrate its ability to innovate and connect everywhere. Indeed, ‘connection’ is at the very core of this new partnership. The operator aims to put digital technology at the service of everyone for the event.
“We aim for an outstanding multi-gigabit network leadership that connects people to each other and the Games, creating an excellent customer experience while promoting diversity and inclusion as main values. We aim to make every sporting event inclusive for all – general public, professionals and institutions – so that everyone can access it where they want, how they want and when they want,” said Xavier Pichon, Chief Executive Officer at Orange Belgium.
“The BOIC is delighted to welcome Orange Belgium as official partner of Team Belgium. With Orange Belgium, one of the biggest players in the Belgian telecommunications market, Team Belgium can now count on the support of a powerful partner on the road to Paris. As in sport, Orange Belgium makes it easy for people to connect. What is more, its commitment to the circular economy and sustainability aligns closely with the goals of the Olympic Movement: to contribute to a better world through sport. I therefore welcome Orange Belgium and look forward to a fruitful collaboration,” said Cédric Van Branteghem, CEO of the BOIC.
