Finding the balance between patient safety and the ability of a patient to manage for himself through intelligent communication was the theme of the 2007 Care event by Freeband. The event was jointly organized by the Academic Hospital UMC Utrecht and Freeband, and was located in the hospital itself. The day was visited by a mix of technical people, care takers, insurers, government and consultant. A great mix, resulting in good discussions.

The chairman of the event, prof. Cor Kalkman of the UMC, led the audience through an interactive program with both plenary and group sessions. In the first plenary session Cor Kalkman and Patrick Strating started the discussion by outlined the challenges and question that they had from their on expertise field. The gap between current practices and possibilities in for furture improvement by technology was enlivened d by an enactment of an epileptic seizure. Frightening realistic.

In groups people were shown three examples of 4G and Care in Freeband from the Awareness, PNP2008 and Frux project. Discussion in these sessions was vivid and constructive. The group leaders summarized the discussion afterwards in the following plenary session.

The keynote speaker, Dr. Paul Barach, arriving with only 20 minutes delay directly from the US, emphasized on the consequences of new technologies. Inspired by the approach of the ‘Bauhaus’ group he advocated ‘aggressive usability’. Let people understand what they are doing, don’ hide critical process knowledge, from the user by computer systems. Only by understanding the consequences of new technologies and having the accepted by users, new technologies can find their way in the health sector in a successful and patient safe manner.

I think this day showed that Freeband is working on relevant technology research and development. But are we working on the good care applications, are we putting the rights emphasis? With the feedback and newly acquired contacts I hope Freeband will further improve the direct applicability of the Freeband 4G concepts and technologies in the health sector.