More precise diagnoses, better patient care, greater efficiency in medical processes: Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing the healthcare sector. With the ability to analyze huge amounts of data at lightning speed, AI offers immense benefits for doctors and patients. The example of the Berlin-based company Noah Labs shows just how far AI technology has already come.
In the future, doctors will have to care for more and more patients - as quickly, efficiently and cost-effectively as possible. The US company Forward Health now has a brand new idea on how this could work. Founded in 2017 by ex-Google manager Adrian Aoun, the company has invented the CarePod, a doctor's surgery with artificial intelligence - but (almost) without a doctor.
The six-square-metre capsule, equipped with all kinds of medical technology, is now being used in shopping malls and office buildings in the USA. It is designed to offer users the same options as a visit to the GP - almost fully automatically. A medical assistant is on site for questions and problems, but does not carry out the examinations themselves.
Services include a full-body scan, heart health, thyroid tests, blood pressure, blood tests, weight management, tests for diabetes, Covid 19 and HIV as well as for kidney and liver health. There are plenty of sensors, scanners, microphones, cameras and equipment for taking samples on board. Doctors only have to check the results transmitted to them and issue prescriptions, which are then immediately printed out in the CarePod.
They also answer patients' questions via the app and take care of referrals to specialists if necessary. A virtual voice guides patients through the procedures, which should also be easy for older people to manage. Forward CEO Adrian Aoun's vision: "We need to find ways to scale the work of doctors so that they can help more people." The subscription for all CarePod services costs 99 dollars a month.
Noah Labs is currently attracting attention in Germany. The innovative Berlin-based company specializes in the development and application of artificial intelligence (AI) to improve medical diagnostics. It is aimed at patients with cardiovascular diseases and their treating cardiology and GP practices and clinics.
"Patients can record vital signs, symptoms and biomarkers from the comfort of their own home using ECG smartwatches or internet-enabled blood pressure cuffs, for example," explains founder Oliver Piepenstock in an interview with ISPO. "In turn, medical staff can keep an eye on all values via a dashboard and receive automatic notifications in the event of abnormalities."
Piepenstock's co-founder Marcus Hott was inspired by his software research at Harvard Medical School, where he recognized the enormous potential of AI in cardiology when he developed cardiac MRI algorithms. He completed his studies at the Technical University of Munich.
"And I have experience as a founder and finance expert," says Piepenstock. "We met in the 'Entrepreneur First' incubator program. Our shared passion for groundbreaking technologies in the healthcare sector then led us to found Noah Labs."
Artificial intelligence has the potential to significantly improve the accuracy and efficiency of diagnoses, particularly in medical diagnostics. In the field of imaging, for example CT scans and MRIs, applications based on machine learning have already gained considerable acceptance.
Treating physicians are relieved by AI and can focus more on their consultations, ward rounds or the admission of new patients. In surgical procedures, AI-controlled robots improve precision and safety, leading to faster recovery times and fewer complications.
In healthcare, AI also helps with administrative tasks and can optimize staff schedules, resulting in significant cost savings.
Where is there still potential for progress through AI in medicine? Another promising area of application is voice analysis in cardiology, explains Piepenstock: "Because the human voice can provide valuable information about the state of health, including heart and respiratory rate. Disorders in heart function can also be identified in this way."
Piepenstock is convinced that in just a few years' time, "almost every healthcare professional will be equipped with an AI co-pilot to support them." In recent decades, pretty much every major industry has been transformed by technology - but the healthcare sector still has a long way to go.
"The healthcare sector is one of the last remaining industries," Piepenstock says. The fact that the widespread use of AI in medical practice is making slow progress also has to do with regulatory, ethical and data protection concerns. In addition, the integration of AI solutions into existing hospital infrastructures requires a lot of investment and adaptation.
Noah Labs' AI is currently being used as a pilot project in GP and cardiology practices. It is also being used in several clinical studies, for example at the Charité hospital in Berlin and a clinic in Barcelona. Noah Labs is also supported by EIT Health, one of the largest European initiatives to promote innovation in the healthcare sector. Noah Labs is also a member of the American Heart Association's Center for Health Technology and Innovation.
"We still have a lot to do. The next step is to get our innovation approved as a Class IIa medical device. We want to break the mark of more than 1,000 monitored patients."
Out on the water and into the cool water: we dive into the water sports trends of 2024! Yes, booth paddling (SUP) is still one of them, even though the former niche sport has long since developed into a mass sport phenomenon. Nevertheless, SUP still has potential for growth. And that's not the only trend. The 2024 Olympic Games in Paris will provide new impetus with two sailing premieres, the IQFoils in windsurfing and kite foiling instead of kitesurfing. Foiling in general - the fast-paced underwater sail is gaining ground in more and more water sports disciplines. At the same time, surfing is conquering the inland, and even in late winter, board fans are getting excited about a completely new trend in water sports with pond skimming
Out on the water and into the cool water: we dive into the water sports trends of 2024! Yes, booth paddling (SUP) is still one of them, even though the former niche sport has long since developed into a mass sport phenomenon. Nevertheless, SUP still has potential for growth. And that's not the only trend. The 2024 Olympic Games in Paris will provide new impetus with two sailing premieres, the IQFoils in windsurfing and kite foiling instead of kitesurfing. Foiling in general - the fast-paced underwater sail is gaining ground in more and more water sports disciplines. At the same time, surfing is conquering the inland, and even in late winter, board fans are getting excited about a completely new trend in water sports with pond skimming.
Are sporadic sporting events or the infamous table football game enough for a company to offer good corporate health management? "No", says the World Health Organization (WHO). It calls for comprehensive initiatives for satisfying work and a healthy environment. The DHL Group is a pioneer in the sense of the WHO. At the global logistics company, not only the approximately 594,000 employees, but also customers, the Group and investors benefit from holistic health promotion.
Logistics is a tough job. Every shipment has to arrive on time - around the clock, around the globe. Physical exertion and stress are part of everyday life: whether at the wheel of a truck or in the cockpit of a cargo plane, whether on the night shift in a mail or parcel hub or in order picking in a supply chain warehouse, whether in one of the three global IT data centers or in management at the headquarters in Bonn. The DHL Group has drawn up a Health & Well-Being Policy to ensure that employees' health does not fall by the wayside. The Group's voluntary commitment recently won the German Corporate Health Award 2023, with the jury praising, among other things, excellent structures and processes in occupational health and safety and occupational medicine, health communication, demographic management and target group-specific offers.
For DHL, however, health management is not an end in itself. On the contrary. It contributes to risk management, which the Group uses to protect itself against risks to its business operations. "Health issues are among the biggest risks worldwide," says Dr. Andreas Tautz, Chief Medical Officer of DHL Group. These can be pandemics, such as the recent coronavirus. But even more so, everyday aches and pains can reduce economic success. After all, it is not possible to provide a good quality of service if there is a massive sickness rate, a lack of productivity among the workforce or a high number of accidents. The issue is so important at DHL that Dr. Tautz reports regularly to the Executive Board.
"We connect people and improve lives with our services. The business is a people business. Our Group lives from its many employees," says Dr. Tautz. Health is a success factor - especially for a global company that defines itself as a quality leader in the tough logistics competition. This is also increasingly true in the battle for the best specialists. A top employer today needs exemplary health management in order to score points with young talent and retain older employees.
But what does health include? As the Group's Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Andreas Tautz believes that DHL Group is on the same wavelength as the WHO: it defines health as a state of comprehensive physical, mental and social well-being - and not just the absence of illness. The workplace, where we spend a large part of our day and therefore our lives, plays a very important role in this. Satisfying work and a well-designed workplace are important factors for everyone to stay healthy. Conversely, poor working conditions are a risk. "The workplace is one of the biggest prevention platforms. After all, this is where we reach 60 percent of the population," says the Chief Medical Officer.
The challenges for occupational physicians are changing. In logistics with a lot of physical work, diseases of the musculoskeletal system are common, as are chronic civilization diseases of the cardiovascular system, metabolism and infections. However, mental health and topics such as healthy sleep are increasingly coming into focus. Researchers have shown that mental stress, including burnout, can significantly impair a company's productivity.
"The secrets of team productivity have long been decoded," says the occupational physician. "The main factors are a meaningful, achievable task and a strong team in which the members can be authentic, trust each other, develop a high level of self-esteem and experience respect and appreciation from managers and the company." Any company that wants to cover up a deficiency in the crucial feel-good factors with technical safety measures or superficial health and sports programs alone is acting counterproductively and will fail. This is scientifically proven.
Speaking of science: DHL Group cooperates with the WHO, the World Economic Forum, universities, research institutions, experts and other partners from the health sector in order to generate objective decision-making criteria and keep its finger on the pulse in the area of corporate health, explains Dr. Andreas Tautz. He himself is a board member of the Scientific Society of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Medicine.
While office employees are usually more open to health communication, people from the operational level tend to react skeptically to offers of support. The DHL Group has therefore carried out projects to evaluate how blue collar teams, as the largest part of the workforce, can be successfully addressed.
Two examples:
Health management has a long tradition in the German DHL organization. As early as 1835, the first doctor was employed by Deutsche Post in Germany, which developed into today's DHL Group with the Post & Parcel division. Deutsche Post has had a health management system in place since 1997, which was rolled out internationally as the Group grew in 2005 and supplemented by many good initiatives from the merged companies. Today, in Germany alone, 200 doctors and medical assistants in 35 company medical practices provide over 110,000 health measures for 220,000 employees every year.
Internationally, the DHL Group, which is active in 220 countries and territories around the world, adapts its health and occupational safety programs to the respective country standards - and in some cases sets local priorities. For example, there has long been a focus on HIV prevention in individual countries. When many pregnancy complications arose in Brazil, a program was developed to support expectant mothers. In Turkey, a welcome-back program was set up for young mothers and fathers. However, the differences are smaller than generally assumed, explains Dr. Andreas Tautz: "If we just look at Germany and China, the priorities for health issues are very similar." At DHL in China, for example, aspects such as mental health and restful sleep were also addressed at a very early stage.
Healthy eating, relaxation and sleep, sport and exercise in everyday life - health management topics like these are credibly received by employees. Also because the DHL Group does not shy away from digital offers. "Many people are simply enthusiastic about sport," says Dr. Andreas Tautz. That's why the Group has launched a fitness app in German and English that promotes exercise under professional guidance. The Chief Medical Officer takes this recipe to heart himself. Whenever he has an appointment, Andreas Tautz jogs from his practice to the Group headquarters and back. And since team sports were not possible during Corona, DHL quickly rolled out an online program that brought jogging, hiking or cycling individuals together to form a motivating sports community. Another app offered guided meditations and music on the topics of stress reduction, health, sleep promotion, productivity and relaxation. Such digital services are to be expanded further.
Of all the local sports initiatives throughout the DHL world that have been established to complement health management, one can be identified as the leader: the Deutsche Post Fan Club. For almost 15 years, this program between Corporate Health and Employer Branding has been bringing together teams in soccer, running, hiking and cycling, including both ambitious athletes and hobbyists. In addition to healthy exercise, the focus is on team building and fun - especially as more and more offers are being made outside of traditional sports activities, such as soapbox building or healthy cooking as well as eSports and virtual sports. "I've been supporting FC for many years, I play soccer and also take part in one or two events. It's great to meet colleagues outside of work and be active as a team," says Jürgen Finger from the Nuremberg Operations branch, raving about the fan club. "The mix of activities is special. For example, the soccer tournament is firmly established here. But we also try out new formats such as on-site fitness workouts together with our colleagues."
Football star and fashion icon, author and activist - there are many terms that could be used to describe Colin Kaepernick. He presents himself as someone who is working towards a better future. His symbolic kneel in the NFL was seen as the starting signal for a global movement to make the world a little fairer. In an exclusive interview with ISPO, he talks about symbols, resilience and responsibility.
You definitely have to find a balance, because it takes up a lot of time. And it takes a lot of passion and work to get things started and make a difference. Finding time for my family - I have a daughter now - and enjoying that, but also being fully present here, is a super important balancing act for me. Whether I always manage the balance so well is another matter. But switching off and experiencing private moments often helps you to discover something new, for example to solve a problem you've been thinking about.
The support I received worldwide was incredible. To see footballers, cricketers, volleyball players and cheerleaders adopting the kneel as a symbol and the gesture spreading across the globe was incredible. Especially in view of the fact that the whole world has shown that it wants a better future. And that encouraged me, because others wanted the same thing as me and shared my vision. That also made it easier for me to keep fighting.
Part of me wishes we didn't need one at all. For me, that is also the goal we should be aiming for. But in the meantime, it's important to have these symbols along the way. Just think of people like Rosa Parks or Mohammed Ali, who have become beacons of hope. You think of them when you're trying to overcome hurdles or get through hard times. They are symbols. It's important to have these role models to lean on when you're struggling yourself.
Today and in the future, we will see more and more athletes taking a stand and making an impact in their communities and beyond. They have direct access and a direct connection to people. And they now also have a much more direct way of expressing their opinion or support than was perhaps the case in 2016. This has changed the overall dynamic.
Yes and no. You don't have to be the greatest at what you do to have an informed opinion on a topic that directly affects our society or a community. After all, you are part of it. But the reality right now is that some companies don't want to work with you if you're a troublemaker. Others see it as a leadership quality. Part of leadership is doing something uncomfortable that is best for the team or the company. To say "Oh, that's a troublemaker" instead of "Oh, that's a thought leader" is wrong thinking in my eyes. This mindset shift still has to take place in society.
The more reach you have, the more responsibility you bear. Regardless of whether you are aware of this or not. That's why it's really important to realize what effect a post has. I think a lot about how I can achieve the best result for everyone with what I do - versus what would be the best result for me personally. I try to be thoughtful with my posts.
For me, resilience is a matter of practice. Every time a problem arises, it's an opportunity to practice resilience. By breaking the issue down into individual moments, you also make it much more accessible. If you don't tackle it piece by piece, the issue becomes confusing and you don't know how to achieve resilience. That's why I see problems as an exercise. Overcoming an obstacle or two doesn't automatically make you resilient and more resilient. Being able to consistently say I can get through it and not let it stop me is more likely.
Definitely. I think it's extremely important to build up self-confidence - you could also say optimism - at a young age. And that's what I wanted to achieve with the book. In most situations, there is a way to win or get ahead. Having a stable foundation allows you to seize opportunities that will help you move forward instead of just looking at the problem. The problem only gives you a framework, but the right mindset gives you the opportunity to get through, to overcome the problem - be it under, over, to the side or whatever.
I've had to deal with it since I was a child. Especially in sports: you lose, you get humiliated, you have terrible days. Can you build resilience and confidence from that and turn up to the next training session or game and be better than the last? Very often sport puts you in situations that embarrass you publicly and humiliate you - especially when you're young. I'm sure many of us now have scenes like that in our heads and think "oh, that was terrible". Because often the defeats or bad moments are much more present in our minds. Coming back from that, moving on and being stronger on the field or court the next time gives you a resilience that you can build on not only in sport, but in all areas of life.
Athletes are in a unique position to bring the elements of sport to life. But at the same time, it is the responsibility of fans or communities to show organizations what is important to them. Then organizations must respond. Because without fans, supporters or athletes, it doesn't work. So the responsibility to create a better future lies with all of us. Athletes naturally have an important external impact. They can initiate things and get fans and communities to join in - and thus become a movement.
Internationally, I'm not so sure, but a lot was initially initiated in the USA, mainly through marketing and PR. But much of this has faded or disappeared completely. Initiatives for equality and diversity have been dismantled and jobs have been cut. So there is still a lot to do. However, customers, fans and communities can play a role again. Because they decide for themselves which brands they support - depending on who represents their values. Brands that make a statement and do it well have a huge advantage over other companies. Conversely, this has a cultural and social impact as well as a business impact. The more companies that understand this, the better. If we all pull together - athletes, brands and fans - we can use sport to change the future faster and have a bigger impact than we think. And that in turn benefits us all.
Yusra Mardini is originally from Syria, took part in the Olympic Games as a professional swimmer and saved her own life and the lives of others while fleeing in distress at sea. Today, she is studying in the USA and runs her own foundation that supports refugees in gaining access to sport and education. In this interview, she talks about her history with sport, mental health and what messages are important for today's sports community.
It was really exciting! I have developed as a woman, learned to set my priorities and where I want to go in life. I also learned that there are no limits when you have big dreams.
Oh yes, I also really like synchronized swimming and tennis. And basketball of course, I used to play that myself. There are so many sports that I enjoy watching, for example Formula 1 or athletics. As a swimmer, I should hate running, but I love running, probably because I've been doing it since I was little. My father used to incorporate it into my swimming training. And even today I run 10 kilometers at least once a week.
I think about how I can convey them authentically and what message I want to get across. And that's important to me: my commitment to refugees and to sport. I love doing this because it's about my story and it's a privilege to share it and make the world a better place.
As an athlete, I would say: don't set yourself limits! I know it might feel like you've reached your maximum, but you sometimes have to think a little crazy to achieve goals like a gold medal or a new record. You have to think out of the box, even if your body says no at first. If your head says yes, your body will eventually follow. This mindset is amazing! It helps me a lot in my life, not just as an athlete.
Being a bit crazy and unique is absolutely great! We all think differently or maybe we even think the same, but that's why we're in competition. That's the beauty of life!
I am convinced that we should invest more in swimming. Because we all enjoy watching it and it is the second most popular sport at the Olympic Games. So why not promote it more, like soccer or Formula 1?
When I was sponsored by Under Armour, because of my backstory and my resilience, it was a really great experience and it also gave me the motivation to become a better athlete. It doesn't always have to be about medals, sometimes we choose athletes because of their story. I think that should happen much more often.
Sure, it's hard. I realized that at a young age and that's also the reason why I have many interests and things that I pursue in life. I'm now studying film studies, I'm in the fashion world and I dream of having my own fashion brand one day. Of course it's heartbreaking to tell my story over and over again. But I also know that I'm doing something good by giving a voice to those who can't tell their story. I may have fled, but I'm a normal person with dreams and ambitions who sometimes needs a break. But luckily I can tell when I need a break.
I do what all people do: When it gets too much, I cry, talk to my parents about it or to other people close to me. I get an ice cream and go for a walk, the normal things you do when you're sad.
Personally, I gather my energy from knowing that I have a platform and a voice that many people listen to. It gives me strength to know I could influence their opinion. My work is not just about telling a story, but about how people perceive refugees and how they receive refugees in their countries. That is also what we do with the foundation.
I hope that we can help as many refugees as possible with education and sport. Big brands and companies can in turn help us to achieve more. So let's work together to make the world a better place!
When I was nine, it was all about winning. Swimming and gold. Swimming and gold. But life isn't just about winning or losing, it's about growing and learning. I learned that the hard way, but it was definitely worth it!
Yes, absolutely! For me, it was what helped me survive when the boat stopped working, when I came to Germany and didn't speak the language. I communicated by swimming. It also helped me survive in Syria. It was the one thing that gave me hope to keep living and dreaming.
I don't know if I would be the same person without sport. Sport has taught me to fail and try again. I've learned to communicate with the coach, to maintain friendships, but to be rivals in the pool. Every value that sport teaches is really important in life.
Most of the athletes I meet are incredible individuals who want to make a difference in the world. So sport should be a human right that can help a lot of kids with their mental health. Imagine they are in a refugee camp and you give them one hour of sport a day. That means everything to them.
It depends on the sport. Of course much more sport is needed. But there is also a lack of prospects. There are still not equal salaries for women and men. A woman can be just as much a gold medal winner as a man, but she earns less. That's not fair! We can improve that. Secondly, as I've already said, we could support my favorite sport, swimming, much more.
And we could link sport much more with social commitment! We could train athletes to stand up for the things that are important to them - whether that's climate change, mental health or refugees. I am convinced that we can teach athletes to become even more role models than they already are.
