Interview with Sergio Baumann

“Together with Swiss Post, we simplify patient referrals by physicians to the hospital”

Since 2014, the cantonal hospitals of Aarau and Baden have relied on vivates. Sergio Baumann, Head of Operations and Member of the Executive Board of Aarau hospital explains why his hospital trusts Swiss Post eHealth.

Could you describe what your project is about?

Physicians often send their patients to a specialist at the hospital for a particular examination or treatment and then continue to treat them afterwards. Appointments and resources have to be planned and patient data has to be exchanged. We now accelerate and optimize these processes using an electronic referral system. At the same time, we are laying the foundations for electronic patient records, which we have to implement in the next few years.

Why did you choose Swiss Post as your partner?

Both cantonal hospitals decided in favour of Swiss Post in independent tendering processes. The “vivates Referral” service module offers us the technically superior and most flexible solution. Swiss Post also won us over with its customer focus. We can discuss the issues with its specialists as equals. That is very important to us.

How does the Swiss Post solution work?

The “vivates Referral” module is a communication platform for physicians and hospitals that allows them to exchange patient data securely, arrange appointments easily and schedule resources efficiently. Physicians decide themselves how they refer their patients to the hospital: by post, by fax or electronically. The data is digitized and flows into the hospital information system. Referring physicians receive their patients' records after their stay in hospital in the format they require.

What role does your project play in the development of eHealth in the canton of Aargau?

We have coordinated the solution with the physicians and pharmacists association, home carers, acute care hospitals and other stakeholders in the healthcare market. Our project forms a basis for further eHealth projects in the canton of Aargau. The important thing now is to work together with Swiss Post to implement the solution cleanly. I am very confident that we can do that.