Digital twins are becoming numerous. Users are continually developing innovative applications for operational efficiency. One of the key use cases of twins is within healthcare.
Last week, I interviewed Professor Steven Niederer of Imperial College London, who is developing a digital twin of a heart. During our interview, we explored whether digital twins could help improve the UK National Health Service’s (NHS) waiting list crises, with millions waiting for treatment.
In theory, digital twins can improve the operational efficiency of hospitals. The technology can potentially optimize hospitals, saving time and money and, in return, reducing patient waiting times. In support of this argument, two weeks ago, Innovate UK funded the digital simulation company Simul8 in partnership with Cranfield University to optimize hospital performance.
The project will partner with Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to develop digital twins to optimize patient workflow management, reduce delays, and facilitate resource allocation. Although the project has yet to have any real data on the effectiveness of digital twins in improving hospital operations, the evidence looks promising. Thus, digital twins offer a real opportunity to reduce waiting lists plaguing the NHS and, by extension, global healthcare.
Check out our intelligence platform for more information on digital twins’ impact on healthcare. Likewise, read our interview with Professor Steven Niederer on developing a digital twin heart.
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