MedCom & the Health Data Network
You may not know MedCom and the Danish Health Data Network, but you have almost certainly benefited from their expertise and daily efforts to exchange all Danes’ health data.
Maybe you provided a blood sample which was analysed at a hospital lab, after which the results were posted to your electronic medical record. Or maybe you just went to see your doctor and were sent to the pharmacy to pick up prescription drugs.
The Danish healthcare system exchanges data for tens of thousands of people each and every day. Between doctors, hospitals, local authorities, pharmacies and private clinics. All of which are connected to the Danish Health Data Network.
MedCom, which is owned by the Danish Ministry of Health, Danish Regions and Local Government Denmark, is responsible for the operation of this network, forming the digital backbone of the Danish healthcare system.
Without a well-functioning network to transport health data, simple things like prescribing medicine would take longer and cost a lot more.
Right mix of ITIL and agility
Netic has been part of MedCom’s operations partner landscape since 2009. Back then, Netic was successful in an EU tender procedure and became a subcontractor to one of Denmark’s largest network companies handling the physical infrastructure.
Netic’s role in the operation of the Danish Health Data Network has been extended along the way. At first, they only acted as subcontractor, but now they play a key role in the project.
Meeting stringent requirements calls for the right mindset
Time does not stand still – not even for MedCom. Keeping the Danes’ health data safe has always been paramount, but in recent years, the issue has become even more relevant because the threat landscape has changed, and more stringent requirements are being introduced with new regulations. To accommodate these developments, Netic needs to maintain its agility and work to stay at the leading edge.
MedCom VDX
Besides the Health Data Network, MedCom owns the system “Videoknudepunktet” – also known as MedCom VDX. The VDX is a common public infrastructure that enables video as an integrated part of the common public health promotion work.
MedCom VDX has been of particular interest during Covid19, as it was decided together with the Danish health authorities, Danish Regions and the Danish Medical Association that “Videoknudepunktet” should support video consultations between all Danish patients and their doctors. This takes place through the app “Min Læge” (in English: My Doctor”), which is developed by Netic’s parent company Trifork and operated by Netic via our data centres in Aalborg.
Prior to the launch of video consultations, the MedCom VDX had to go through an extensive hardware upgrade as preparation for the potentially large number of simultaneous video consultations. Since the infrastructure for the VDX was already placed in Netic’s data centres, it was natural that Netic should handle the task. Due to Covid19, the deadline for the upgrade was tight. However, Netic succeeded.