Systems Medicine: Hype or Revolution?

Abstract

Research and innovation in healthcare can change existing practices aiming at constant improvement of diagnosis, treatment and prevention. As a new holistic approach Systems Medicine (SM) may revolutionize the healthcare system. This paper analyzes ethical and economic obstacles of SMs development from a niche innovation to a standard solution. We adapt a model of innovation theory to structure the barriers of adopting SM to become standard in the medical system. SM has the potential to change the medical system if barriers to this innovation can be overcome. The article discusses the potential of SM in becoming the future health paradigm considering these barriers and provides an overview of the current situation.

Innovationsmanagement diagnostischer Geräte am Beispiel der Detektion zirkulierender Tumorzellen

“…Viele Krankheiten, die früher erst nach langem Experimentieren behandelt werden konnten oder als unheilbar galten, sind heute durch Medizintechnik, wie z. B. Genomics, Proteomics, Metabolomics etc., viel früher oder genauer zu diagnostizieren und einer zielgerichteten Behandlung zuzuführen [3]. Aber in vielen Fällen wäre eine genauere und schnellere Diagnostik wünschenswert, um Leben zu retten und die Lebensqualität der Betroffenen zu erhöhen.…”

Sustainability of health systems research – a conceptional framework based on two projects

“…in a completely new scientific realm and under strongly changed conditions (dynamic functional sustainability). One can state that the degree of sustainability declines from 1) to 4), i.e., aspects of the structural static sustainability are achieved to a higher degree than of the dynamic functional sustainability, but in principle the sustainability of the project is amazingly high: equipment is still in use and maintained, databases are utilized and up-kept, research project based on GANI_MED are submitted and executed, and innovative concepts of patient care are implemented (Fleßa, Thum et al 2016). This leads to the question why GANI_MED is sustainable, while many other projects are not.…”