Today, AZ Sint-Blasius in Dendermonde is unveiling the TOTeM project (Transmural Observation through TeleMonitoring), an innovative approach that leverages nexuzhealth's platforms and advanced technologies to provide patients with a safe recovery at home. Thanks to minimally invasive techniques in colorectal surgery, combined with TOTeM, patients can leave AZ Sint-Blasius just 48 hours after their procedure. Highly trained Mederi healthcare providers then monitor patients at home for ten days via nexuzhealth consult, recording vital and objective parameters together with the patient through mynexuzhealth. The Z+ care center analyzes the results 24/7 and immediately notifies the specialist in case of abnormalities. The result? High-quality recovery in a familiar home environment and peace of mind for the patient.

“Nearly every patient prefers to go home as soon as possible after a surgical procedure,” explains Dr. Filip Vanrykel, thoraco-abdominal surgeon. “To meet this need, we launched TOTeM, which stands for Transmural Observation through TeleMonitoring. It is also scientifically proven that home rehabilitation delivers positive outcomes. Since certain complications can arise in the first days following colorectal surgery, we implemented this telemonitoring project in collaboration with Mederi, Z+ and nexuzhealth. For colorectal surgery, this is a first in Belgium. The first ten patients were already incredibly enthusiastic.”

From preoperative preparation to postoperative care

When a patient opts into the TOTeM project, a trained nurse visits their home before the operation to prepare them as thoroughly as possible. “We follow a validated transmural care pathway,” says Ellen Rossel, nursing coordinator for innovative projects at Mederi. “The home nurse is the patient’s fixed point of contact. During the first home visit, they install the mynexuzhealth app on the patient’s device. After the operation, the nurse provides the necessary care daily and records the required parameters in the app together with the patient.” Leveraging technology ensures a streamlined and, above all, safe collaboration.

Monitoring and data flow

“These data are immediately integrated into the electronic patient record, allowing the specialist and general practitioner to monitor everything,” says Karine Van Zande, EHR manager at AZ Sint-Blasius. The Z+ care center remotely monitors for any anomalies 24/7 via nexuzhealth consult and promptly informs the treating specialist if a complication is suspected. “In such cases, we first contact the patient to check whether an incorrect value was entered by mistake,” explains Julie Wyffels, general manager of Z+. “If this is not the case, we immediately contact the treating physician and refer the patient to the hospital. We react extremely quickly in the event of complications. TOTeM is a great recognition for primary care. We work together on integrated care, always putting the patient at the center.”

Scalable to other services 

With TOTeM, we demonstrate that patients can benefit from advanced technologies and integrated care. The shorter hospital stay, daily follow-up by specialized nurses and quick communication with the treating physician in case of complications contribute to a positive patient experience. “For us, this model is perfectly scalable to other pathologies,” says project coordinator Tom Imberechts. “Moreover, the patient always has the choice to rehabilitate at home. The additional cost is relatively low: it is 60 euros for home monitoring. Of course, we hope that an RIZIV nomenclature for TOTeM will soon follow to further reduce this cost.”

A centralized platform for integrated care 

Nexuzhealth strives to provide healthcare professionals with advanced digital solutions that enhance operational efficiency, foster collaboration and enable high-quality care. Their future-proof cloud strategy offers numerous benefits such as real-time sharing of medical data, scalability and advanced security features.

Sharing sensitive health data also requires a strong focus on privacy and security. Nexuzhealth implements extensive access controls to ensure secure and legitimate access to patient records. Users undergo two-factor authentication before accessing the application, and access to medical information is based on function and therapeutic relationship. Finally, informed patient consent is always required.

“With the TOTeM project, we are taking a significant step towards the future of healthcare, where technology and integrated care go hand in hand to support patients safely and efficiently,” concludes Gertie Delande, CEO of nexuzhealth.