Healthcare Data Security: Protecting Patient’s Info

With the rapid digitization of medical records and increasing reliance on electronic systems, the importance of data security in healthcare cannot be overstated. Healthcare organizations are entrusted with vast amounts of highly sensitive information, including medical histories, diagnoses, treatment plans, and personal identifiable data. A single breach or data security issue in healthcare can have devastating consequences, jeopardizing individuals’ privacy and the integrity of clinical decision-making. One of the biggest threats to the security of healthcare data is the potential for unauthorized access by malicious actors or inadvertent mishandling of sensitive information.

The latest data from the Office for Civil Rights shows 315 cyber attacks on the medical sector in 2024. Alarmingly, the most prevalent type of data breach has been hacking/IT incidents, highlighting the persistent threat posed by malicious actors exploiting vulnerabilities in healthcare organizations’ digital infrastructure. This underscores the urgent need for robust cybersecurity measures and proactive threat prevention strategies to safeguard patient data and mitigate the consequences of cyber attacks targeting the medical field.

Let us figure out what data protection means for healthcare organizations and how you can achieve higher levels of security for sensitive data within the clinical environment.

What is Healthcare Data Security?

Healthcare data security refers to the measures and practices implemented to protect sensitive patient data, health information, and digital data within healthcare organizations. It encompasses a wide range of safeguards and security protocols aimed at preventing unauthorized access, data breaches, and security incidents that could compromise protected health information.

Effective data security requires a comprehensive approach that addresses both technical and administrative aspects. This includes implementing robust data encryption techniques and role-based access control (RBAC) measures to ensure that only authorized users can access sensitive patient data. Additionally, it involves establishing rigorous policies, security management processes, and ongoing security awareness training for healthcare practitioners to cultivate a culture of data protection and privacy.

The healthcare sector remains a prime target for cyber attacks, with malicious actors continuously seeking to exploit vulnerabilities and gain unauthorized access to valuable patient health information. Successful data security in healthcare requires a proactive approach to threat prevention, regular risk assessments, and the implementation of strong security measures to protect patient data and safeguard patient safety.

By prioritizing data security for healthcare and implementing robust security protocols, healthcare organizations can not only protect sensitive patient information but also maintain data integrity, foster trust, and facilitate secure medical research and healthcare services.

What are Related Challenges to Consider?

Establishing adequate data security in healthcare is an uphill battle fraught with numerous challenges and risks. The sheer value of healthcare data, encompassing personal details, financial information, and comprehensive medical records, makes it an irresistible target for cybercriminals. This data can be exploited for identity theft, financial fraud, or sold on the dark web, making healthcare organizations high-value targets for sophisticated attacks and complex security breaches.

Complexity of the healthcare ecosystem

The complexity of the healthcare ecosystem, with its dense network of providers, insurers, and technology vendors, further amplifies vulnerability. Each participant in this interconnected web represents a potential entry point for cyberattacks, and the diverse nature of their systems and cybersecurity preparedness complicates the security landscape. As data flows across this ecosystem, the risk of exposure multiplies, necessitating stringent measures and collaborative cybersecurity strategies.

Rapid adoption of digital technologies

The rapid adoption of digital technologies, such as electronic health records, telemedicine platforms, and remote patient monitoring tools, expands the attack surface and creates new vulnerabilities.

Legacy systems

The prevalence of legacy systems in healthcare settings also makes them more susceptible to cyber attacks, as these outdated systems often lack regular security updates and patches to address emerging threats. This increased digital footprint demands robust cybersecurity measures to protect patient data and ensure service continuity.

Regulatory compliance

Compounding these challenges are stringent regulatory demands, with frameworks like HIPAA, GDPR, and HITECH Act setting baseline standards for data protection and severe penalties for non-compliance. Adhering to these regulations while safeguarding patient privacy and upholding service integrity and availability is a continuous endeavor for healthcare organizations that requires effective compliance management.

Role of HIPAA and HITRUST Compliance for Healthcare Organizations

HIPAA and HITRUST compliance is paramount for healthcare organizations to ensure robust data security and safeguard sensitive patient data. Here’s an overview of their significance in the context of data security in healthcare.

HIPAA

HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) serves as the cornerstone of healthcare data security in the United States. This federal law establishes the legal foundation for protecting sensitive healthcare data and electronic protected health information. 

  • Privacy and Security Rules – HIPAA’s Privacy Rule protects patient health information, while the Security Rule focuses on safeguarding electronic health records (EHRs) and other digital data.
  • Breach notification – Requires healthcare organizations to report data breaches involving protected health information (PHI) to affected patients and relevant authorities.
  • Access controls – Mandates that only authorized people can access sensitive patient information, promoting the principle of role-based access control.
  • Data encryption – Encourages the use of data encryption to secure patient records and health information during storage and transmission.

HITRUST 

HITRUST (Health Information Trust Alliance) plays a pivotal role in enhancing data security and ensuring robust data protection practices across the healthcare sector. At its core, HITRUST offers a comprehensive framework known as the Common Security Framework (CSF), which provides healthcare organizations with a standardized approach to managing security and privacy. This framework incorporates various healthcare regulations, offering a unified solution to address the complex landscape of data security in healthcare.

  • Risk management – Helps healthcare institutions assess and mitigate data security issues in healthcare more effectively.
  • Certification process – Offers a rigorous certification that demonstrates an organization’s commitment to healthcare data protection and information security.
  • Threat prevention – Regularly updated to address evolving cyber attacks and security incidents in the healthcare sector.
  • Third-party assurance – Provides assurance to patients, healthcare workers, and business associates about an organization’s data security practices.

Top Healthcare Data Security Best Practices

To significantly enhance your data protection efforts and reduce the risk of breaches and other security incidents, consider implementing these nine top healthcare data security best practices.

  1. Implement strong access controls: Utilize role-based access to make sure that only authorized users can access sensitive patient data. This includes multi-factor authentication and regular access audits.
  2. Develop and maintain security policies: Create clear, detailed security policies and procedures aligned with HIPAA Security Rule requirements. Ensure all healthcare workers are trained on these policies regularly.
  3. Encrypt sensitive data: Utilize robust data encryption for both data at rest and in transit. This applies to electronic health records, protected health information, and other sensitive medical data.
  4. Conduct regular risk assessments: Perform comprehensive security risk analyses to identify vulnerabilities in your health information technology systems and processes. This helps in proactively addressing potential data security issues in healthcare.
  5. Keep systems updated: Regularly update and patch all software, like operating systems, applications, and medical devices to protect against known vulnerabilities and cyber attacks.
  6. Train staff on security awareness: Conduct regular training sessions to educate healthcare workers about data security best practices, phishing threats, and the importance of protecting sensitive patient information.
  7. Have a robust incident response plan: Develop and regularly test a comprehensive plan for responding to data breaches or other security incidents in compliance with HIPAA breach notification requirements.
  8. Carefully manage third-party vendors: Healthcare companies frequently rely on third-party vendors for a variety of services. Ensure that all business associates and third-party vendors adhere to the same rigorous data security standards to maintain the integrity of your healthcare data protection efforts. For instance, our eWizard platform recently enhanced its security with penetration testing.
  9. Backup data securely: Regularly backup all critical health data and store backups securely, preferably off-site or in a secure cloud environment, to ensure data integrity and availability in case of a security incident.

Healthcare Data Security Insights and Trends

Healthcare data security is evolving rapidly in response to technological advancements and emerging threats. Let’s discuss.

Switch to electronic records

The transition to electronic health records (EHRs) has been a pivotal development in health information technology, dramatically improving the efficiency of patient care. However, this digital transformation has also expanded the attack surface for cybercriminals, making healthcare organizations high-value targets for data breaches. The widespread adoption of EHRs, which surged from 6.6% to 81.2% in the decade leading up to the COVID-19 pandemic, underscores the urgent need for enhanced data security measures to safeguard sensitive patient information.

Rising threats

Cybersecurity threats in healthcare continue to rise, with phishing attacks emerging as the most prevalent method for compromising data security. The increasing sophistication of these attacks, potentially leveraging artificial intelligence for more convincing phishing campaigns, poses a significant challenge to healthcare institutions. To combat these threats, organizations are turning to AI-powered security solutions for advanced threat detection and real-time incident response, helping to mitigate the risk of healthcare breaches.

Unique nature of healthcare data

The unique nature of healthcare data adds another layer of complexity to data security challenges. Healthcare organizations handle vast amounts of sensitive patient data, often stored across multiple systems and providers. This diverse and unstructured data, accounting for about 30% of the world’s data volume, creates interoperability issues and multiple points of vulnerability. To address these challenges, emerging technologies like blockchain are being explored to ensure data integrity and prevent unauthorized modifications to protected health information.

IoMT security

The rise of the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) is another significant trend impacting healthcare data security. As more medical devices become connected, securing this expanding network becomes crucial for protecting patient safety and privacy. Healthcare organizations must implement robust security measures to safeguard these devices and the sensitive healthcare data they transmit and store.

Cloud security

As healthcare organizations increasingly migrate to cloud-based solutions, ensuring robust cloud security becomes paramount. Cloud security measures must be implemented to protect electronic protected health information and maintain HIPAA compliance in these distributed environments.

Final Remarks

The healthcare sector faces unprecedented challenges in data security, driven by technological advancements, evolving cyber threats, and regulatory changes. To address these challenges, healthcare organizations must adopt a multi-faceted approach to data security, leveraging emerging technologies like AI and blockchain, implementing strong access controls and encryption, and fostering a culture of security awareness among healthcare workers.

Crucially, this commitment to data security must extend beyond the organization itself to encompass all vendors and collaborators in the healthcare ecosystem. It’s essential that every entity with access to sensitive healthcare data adheres to the same rigorous cybersecurity standards. At Viseven, we exemplify this commitment to healthcare data security. As an ISO-certified company, we regularly train our employees on the latest cybersecurity policies and best practices. Our solutions undergo rigorous testing to ensure they are robust and secure, providing our healthcare clients with the confidence that their sensitive patient data is protected to the highest standards.

By staying on top of these trends, implementing comprehensive healthcare data security solutions, and partnering with security-conscious vendors like Viseven, healthcare organizations can better protect sensitive patient information, maintain regulatory compliance, and ensure the integrity and confidentiality of healthcare data in an increasingly digital landscape. This holistic approach to data security in healthcare not only safeguards patient privacy but also fosters trust and enables the safe adoption of innovative health information technologies that can improve patient care and outcomes.

Data-Driven Storytelling in Healthcare Marketing

With vast amounts of information pouring in from electronic health records, wearable devices, and genetic testing, healthcare organizations are swimming in data. However, raw numbers and statistics alone mean little until they are transformed into compelling stories.

Data storytelling allows healthcare marketers to take complex data and craft narratives that resonate with their audiences. By combining insights from data with powerful storytelling techniques, healthcare organizations can help diverse stakeholders better understand the human impact behind the numbers. Effective data storytelling fosters deeper comprehension of critical healthcare issues and inspires actions that ultimately improve patient care.

What is Data-Driven Storytelling, and Why Is it Important?

Data-driven storytelling is the practice of using data and analytics to create compelling narratives that help communicate insights, trends, and findings in a way that resonates with the audience. It combines the power of data visualization and storytelling techniques to transform complex datasets into engaging and easy-to-understand stories. This approach is increasingly being used in pharma content marketing to effectively communicate the benefits and value propositions of pharmaceutical products and services.

In the context of healthcare, effective data storytelling is crucial for fostering understanding among stakeholders. Healthcare data can be vast, complex, and often overwhelming. Storytelling with data helps break down intricate information into digestible pieces, making it easier for healthcare professionals, policymakers, and patients to grasp the significance of the data and its implications.

Furthermore, data storytelling empowers decision-makers to base their choices on evidence and insights derived from the data. By presenting data in a compelling and relatable manner, this approach contributes to evidence-based practice and quality improvement efforts in healthcare. It also enhances patient engagement by using storytelling with data examples to educate patients about their health conditions, treatment options, and the importance of adherence to care plans. Well-crafted narratives can help patients better understand their personal health data, leading to increased engagement and better patient outcomes.

Data storytelling plays a crucial role in healthcare analytics as well, helping communicate complex analytical findings to diverse audiences. It bridges the gap between raw data and actionable insights, facilitating data-driven decision-making across various healthcare domains. Additionally, data and storytelling can be powerful tools for advocating change in healthcare policies, practices, or resource allocation. By presenting compelling narratives backed by data, healthcare organizations can build a strong case for necessary changes and drive positive transformations.

Main Elements of Data-driven Storytelling

Data-driven storytelling revolves around three key elements: data, narrative, and visuals.

Data

The foundation of data storytelling is the data itself. This includes raw data from various sources, such as electronic medical records, clinical trials, patient surveys, wearable devices, and other healthcare data repositories. Effective data storytelling requires careful data collection, cleaning, and analysis to extract meaningful insights and patterns. What is the core message or insight you want to convey? What is the most compelling or surprising finding from the data? What problem are you trying to address or what opportunity are you highlighting? Who is your target audience?

Narrative

The narrative element is what transforms raw data into a compelling and relatable story. It involves crafting a coherent storyline that connects the data points and insights in a way that resonates with the target audience. A well-structured narrative should have a clear beginning, middle, and end, guiding the audience through the data while highlighting the key messages and implications. The narrative should also incorporate storytelling techniques, such as using analogies, metaphors, and emotional appeals, to make the data more accessible and memorable. Effective content operations strategies ensure data-driven narratives are consistently produced and distributed across channels.

Source: SAP

Visuals

While data and narrative are essential, visuals play a crucial role in making the two more engaging and easier to understand. Studies suggest that as much as 78% of students are visual learners. Data visualization techniques, such as charts, graphs, infographics, and interactive dashboards, can help simplify complex information and reveal patterns that may not be immediately apparent in raw data. Effective visuals should be clear, intuitive, and aligned with the narrative, enhancing the storytelling experience rather than distracting from it.

How to Craft a Compelling Narrative Using Data Stories in Healthcare Marketing

Effective data storytelling in healthcare marketing is not just about presenting data, it’s about crafting a compelling narrative that inspires action, fosters understanding, and ultimately contributes to better patient outcomes and healthier communities. Here’s a roadmap to crafting a compelling data story.

Know your audience

Tailor your narrative to resonate with your target audience. Consider their level of data literacy, background knowledge, and personal experiences. Creating a content map can help structure your narrative for the specific audience. Adapt your storytelling approach accordingly, using language and examples that will resonate with them. For instance, if you’re writing for policymakers, it’s best to concentrate on the big picture, like recommendations and implications of the data you’re presenting. And if you’re writing for researchers, you may be more specific and dive into details, like methods and limitations of your various data sets.

Identify the core message

It’s crucial to define the central message you want to communicate through your data story. This could be highlighting a successful treatment approach, demonstrating the impact of preventive care, or raising awareness about a particular health issue. Ensure that your core message is clear and aligns with your marketing objectives.

Build a captivating story

Like any good story, your data narrative should have a clear beginning, middle, and end. Start by setting the context and introducing the problem or opportunity. Then, present your data-driven insights and evidence, building towards a climax or turning point. Finally, conclude with a compelling call to action or resolution.

Effective storytelling involves more than just presenting facts. Utilize techniques such as character development, conflict and resolution, emotional appeals, and descriptive language to captivate your audience and make your data story more memorable.

Connect your data story to tangible outcomes and real-world implications. Demonstrate how the insights derived from your data can improve patient care, enhance treatment efficacy, or drive positive changes in healthcare practices.

Select the right visuals

Visuals play a crucial role in bringing data stories to life and enhancing their impact in healthcare marketing campaigns. Here are some effective visuals you can consider incorporating into your data-driven narratives:

  • Charts and graphs
  • Infographics
  • Heat maps
  • Pictograms and icon arrays
  • Annotated images and illustrations
  • Video and animation

Where possible, incorporate interactive elements into your data story. This could include clickable visualizations, multimedia components, or opportunities for audience participation. Interactivity can enhance engagement and create a more immersive experience.

Revealing Insights and Deriving Value: Examples of Data Storytelling

We’ve talked a lot about how influential data storytelling can be and how to achieve a good narrative and visualization. But let’s show and discuss data storytelling examples.

UNODC

Source: UNODC

The alarming rise of synthetic drugs, such as opioids and methamphetamines, has escalated into a global health crisis, demanding immediate attention and action. Recognizing the urgent need for awareness, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has crafted an interactive page that captures the far-reaching impact of this issue across the globe.

This awareness campaign exemplifies effective data storytelling, seamlessly blending data visualization and compelling narratives. As you navigate through the interactive page, you are immediately drawn to a world map.

Scrolling down, information unfolds layer by layer, detailing the realities of substance abuse, linked to the countries it afflicts. As you delve deeper into the page, the world map becomes a tapestry of data points, each contributing to the overarching narrative — a sobering reminder that this crisis transcends borders and affects nations globally.

Spotify 

Spotify is known for its data storytelling. Just think of the Spotify Wrapped we get each year that turns our listening habits into dynamic visual and audio experiences. It’s similar for the artists, and Spotify’s 2022 Fan Study is a prime example of good data storytelling. This report provides musicians with relevant data insights into how listeners’ habits and engagements can influence their follower count and music streaming numbers. The main page seamlessly blends data visualizations, such as infographics and line charts, with concise explanations, offering a comprehensive understanding of the data trends.

One of the key components of a good data story is the ability to provide context and tell a compelling story with the data. Spotify for Artists achieves this by breaking down the report into subsections like engagement, merch, and release, each section offering data-driven insights and tips to help musicians grow their fanbase and reach a wider audience.

Successful data storytellers not only present the data but also evoke an emotional response by highlighting the human element behind the numbers. Spotify’s report achieves this by focusing on the personal connections between musicians and their listeners, emphasizing the importance of understanding and catering to their audience’s preferences.

Furthermore, the user experience is enhanced by creative visuals, such as animated text on scrolling, making the data presentations more engaging and memorable.

National Geographic

The National Geographic article, “Visualizing 500,000 Deaths from Covid-19 in the US,” is a poignant example of effective data storytelling. When dealing with large and abstract numbers, such as the staggering loss of human lives due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it can be challenging to comprehend the true magnitude of the data. This article masterfully addresses this challenge by employing data visualization techniques that make the data relatable and emotionally resonant.

In a good data story, it’s also important to provide context and frame the data in a way that resonates with the audience. In this case, National Geographic achieves this by comparing the 500,000 COVID-19 deaths in the US to familiar subjects and settings that people can easily visualize and relate to.

For instance, the article visualizes the loss by comparing it to all fast food cooks in the country. By anchoring the data in relatable contexts, the article enables readers to grasp the sheer scale of the loss in a way that raw numbers alone cannot convey.

Summing Up

By harnessing the power of compelling narratives, data visualizations, and emotional connections, pharmaceutical companies can effectively communicate complex healthcare insights, treatment effectiveness, and data trends to a wide range of stakeholders, including healthcare professionals, policymakers, and the general public.

Effective data storytelling in the pharmaceutical industry goes beyond mere data presentation, it involves uncovering key insights, providing context, and weaving a cohesive narrative that resonates with the audience. This approach not only enhances understanding but also fosters trust and credibility, essential components in an industry where lives are at stake.

As data scientists, pharmaceutical companies must master the art of data visualization, utilizing tools such as infographics, line charts, and interactive dashboards to bring their data to life. By presenting complex data in a visually compelling and easily digestible manner, they can communicate intricate concepts, highlight patterns, and show key ways to drive informed decision-making.

Looking ahead, the role of data storytelling in the pharmaceutical industry will only continue to grow in importance as the industry grapples with an ever-increasing volume of data and the need for effective communication across diverse stakeholder groups. By embracing the art of storytelling with data, pharmaceutical companies can unlock new avenues for innovation, foster trust and transparency, and ultimately contribute to better health outcomes on a global scale.

We here at Viseven can help you create data-based storytelling that is bound to make your audience interested. Our content experience platform, eWizard, enables you to create powerful content, and reuse it on multiple platforms, not only providing an exciting visual experience to your audience but also saving you time and resources. Contact our team below to get a full demo!

How Viseven Helped Pharma Leader Reinvent Customer Relations Through Accessible Medical Content 

A leading pharmaceutical company sought to not just promote its products, but create a unique, engaging platform for the HCPs to stay informed at their own pace. They recognized the power of memorable, relevant content — however, standing out in a crowded and highly competitive industry would require an innovative approach. 

Client Overview 

The client is a top 10 European pharmaceutical company selling Rx and OTC products globally across multiple markets and regions. Their audiences include healthcare professionals spanning diverse specialties, languages, and cultures. 

Challenges 

While the company had successful product promotion strategies, they aimed to take a fresh perspective and explore new approaches. The goal was to build deeper connections with customers through content that was uniquely valuable, personalized, and inspiring rather than simply product-focused. However, delivering this tailored experience across varied segments raised complexity due to competition and regulatory hurdles. 

Partnership with Viseven 

The company partnered with Viseven to develop an omnichannel content strategy centered on two principles: uniqueness and accessibility. As a part of our collaboration, the Viseven team too the following steps: 

  • Conducted extensive market research to understand audience needs, cultural nuances, and areas to differentiate. 
  • Assembled cross-functional content teams including medical writers, marketers, designers, and editors. 
  • Created initial “universal” content, like brochures, videos, interactive web pages, and apps tailored to global audiences. 
  • Moved to more personalized content like emails and landing pages as interest grew. 

Impact on the Client’s Business 

By taking an audience-centric approach focused on education over promotion, the pharmaceutical company achieved breakthrough engagement: 

  • HCPs globally embraced valuable medical information and wellness mentorship; 
  • 5% of HCPs turned from just loyal customers to advocates; 
  • Customers gained a deeper understanding of their conditions and treatment strategies; 
  • The company transformed its brand perception from just a drug seller to a trusted healthcare advisor; 
  • Interest and adoption of products grew substantially across regions; 
  • Registrations in the pharma company’s portal increased by 42%. 

The results of our cooperation show that unique content can be the key to the hearts of consumers worldwide. 

Discover how Viseven can help your organization craft unforgettable, personalized content experiences that foster customer confidence and loyalty. 

AI-Powered Analytics for Life Sciences Marketing: What You Need to Know 

Leading life sciences brands have joined the AI race over the past few years. Why? Because it gives them superpowers to walk in customers’ shoes, deliver value faster, and even predict what their audience might need next.  

While it might seem like all you need is a subscription to an AI tool, we know from experience that undergoing digital transformation takes time, a strong vision, and hard work. In this article, the Viseven team will discuss the benefits of AI analytics, show how to leverage it effectively and offer real-world use cases to illustrate its impact. 

Benefits of Using AI-Powered Analytics 

Life sciences industry leaders pursue the fastest and the most efficient adoption of AI-powered solutions in their daily operations. Does it mean you should do the same? Well, the most straightforward answer is yes, you should. Right now, artificial intelligence is the major enabler of growth and development for businesses across sectors, and it is likely to stay that way for the foreseeable future. So, it is important to know what value AI-driven analytics provides in your specific business case. To find this out, let’s look at its key benefits: 

From storytelling to story-making 

Lack of content personalization creates noise for healthcare providers (HCPs), adds to their workload, and, most importantly, distracts from patient care. This is one of the main reasons why the life sciences industry shifts from storytelling to tailored story-making.  

What’s the difference, you might ask? A storyteller aims to share their views to educate, persuade, or entertain. While this is valuable, it often overlooks the audience’s perceptions. On the other hand, story-making involves creating messages based on customer feedback, making them the protagonists of their own story.  

For instance, if you notice that an HCP has clicked on certain emails or visited specific pages in the past, you can use this information to tailor content to their unique needs. This approach makes the campaign feel more personalized and less like pushy or too salesy life science marketing. Doing this can foster empathy, create an emotional connection, and build lasting relationships. 

Real-time engagement 

Traditionally, campaigns involve a lot of upfront planning, with budgets, target segments, and marketing channels set months in advance. This leaves pharmaceutical companies little to no wiggle room to adjust mid-campaign. 

AI-driven analytics not only personalizes customer experiences but also does so in real time. In other words, it allows for moments-based life science marketing when brands satisfy customers’ needs in the precise moment of interaction. If life sciences companies understand their customers, what they do, and what they need at a specific moment, they can deliver more value and build stronger relationships.  

Prediction of trends 

AI analytics does not just show what is happening; it anticipates what will happen next. This helps brands stay better prepared for changing customer preferences and market disruptions.  

Machine learning (ML) algorithms can apply data analytics to identify industry trends and patterns in HCPs or patients’ behaviors that might go unnoticed by the human eye. This technology highlights which channels, campaigns, and messages will resonate with your target audience.  

Businesses can then accurately allocate budgets, refine campaigns, and improve product positioning and pricing. Some pleasant side effects include enhanced customer satisfaction, engagement, and loyalty. 

How to Use AI Analytics for Successful Life Science Marketing 

To successfully implement AI analytics across your organization, you should make the following key steps: 

1. Set your goals 

The first thing on your list should be defining your goals with AI analytics. Are you looking to enhance customer experience or predict market trends? Or are you aiming to improve resource spending or content quality? Take a moment to answer these questions and set clear key performance indicators before moving on to the next step. 

2. Get everyone on board 

Some employees may resist organizational change, fearing AI will replace them. Communicate the benefits of AI analytics and the human role in the process. Explain that AI solutions are only as good as their training data and a human touch is necessary to avoid errors.  

Employees should also understand what’s in it for them to foster their intrinsic motivation. Emphasize that AI analytics will minimize repetitive manual tasks and allow them to shift to more creative ones. 

3. Handle your data with care 

Your data needs to be clean and complete to get accurate analytics results. This involves standardizing it, removing duplicates, and filling in missing values. It is crucial to collect data from different sources like social media, sales, customer engagement metrics, and so on.

Equally important is ensuring ethical marketing practices. Some demographic groups might need to be more represented in your data sources. So, you might need help from human experts to eliminate bias and get the whole picture.  

Without regulatory compliance, you consciously risk losing your sensitive data to hackers. You must follow GDPR, HIPAA, and other relevant regulations for storing and managing customer data (the type of regulation depends on your location). 

4. Implement your digital marketing strategy 

Now, it is time to integrate the technology into your life science marketing strategy. The use of AI analytics will depend on the goals you set at very first stage. At this point, ensure that your team members have all the necessary support and promptly arrange meetings to address any questions or concerns they might have.

Also, make sure to turn your raw data into user-friendly visuals. Graphs and diagrams help make a bunch of numbers easier to understand, analyze, and share with others. Just look at the picture below to feel the difference.

5. Track the campaign performance 

Monitor the performance of your life science marketing campaign and adjust it when necessary. Real-time insights will help deliver a more valuable and tailored experience to your target audience.  

Conduct A/B testing to compare your digital marketing strategies and determine the most successful ones. If you rely on a modular approach, you will want to reuse content assets that resonate most with your customers. 

AI Analytics Use Cases in Pharma 

The Viseven team has deep expertise in leveraging AI-powered analytics across life science companies. Let’s see how technology works in real life. 

Personalization of Broadcast Emails 

Broadcast emails are often seen as impersonal, but we can show you otherwise. Our clients use eWizard, our content experience platform, to send tailored bulk emails to many customers.  

With eWizard, a life sciences marketing team selects parameters like HCPs’ specialty, content type, or desired tone. Then, the large language model (LLM) generates targeted text based on the data in your digital asset management (DAM) system. It is worth noting that AI analytics prioritizes content that has performed well in past campaigns, ensuring a message resonates.  

The beauty of eWizard is that it shows you exactly which assets informed the generated text. This eliminates AI’s “black box” mystery and adds transparency to the process. 

Real-Time Interaction Management 

To personalize HCP experiences, we go beyond traditional demographics. We use advanced analytics to understand past interactions, preferred communication channels, and real-time needs.  

The journey begins with selecting the right channel (email or messenger). Following the link in the message, an HCP lands on the website tailored to their specific interests. This way, a professional encounters information relevant to their current needs. Then, HCP’s actions trigger personalized emails with a real-time content population.  

The given data is fed back into the client’s CRM system. This empowers sales representatives with the next best action, providing tailored suggestions based on the HCP’s preferences.  

Trust Your Analytics to Viseven 

Crafting marketing strategies without robust AI-driven analytics can cause your campaigns to fall through the cracks. This technology lets marketers understand customers in real time, personalize their experiences, and prepare for future disruptions and challenges.  

If you are looking for a MarTech service provider, look no further. Viseven has been securely delivering accurate data insights for over 14 years. Our life sciences marketing experts know how to collect, organize, and visualize data so you can enhance marketing efforts, tailor offerings, and assess your business performance. Our clients report a 95% satisfaction rate, with 80% of new clients coming from referrals.  

Please reach out today to let our team know about your plans for AI analytics. 

Maximizing impact with eDetailing: our practical guide for pharma

Looking for ways to revolutionize your communications with healthcare professionals?
Our eDetailing Guide is your roadmap to personalized, data-driven engagement that gets results.

Inside, you’ll discover:

How to craft personalized eDetailing experiences that resonate with HCPs and drive results.

Personalization in eDetailing goes beyond simply addressing HCPs by name. It involves tailoring the entire experience—from the content presented to the interactions facilitated—to each individual HCP’s specific preferences, interests, and needs.

This can be achieved by leveraging data from various sources, such as past interactions, online behaviour, and professional profiles, to create detailed HCP profiles. These profiles can then be used to dynamically adjust the eDetailing content, ensuring that each HCP receives the most relevant and engaging information.

Our guide delves into the strategies and technologies that enable this level of personalization, ultimately leading to more meaningful conversations and improved outcomes.

A step-by-step checklist for implementing personalization strategies that make a real impact.

Implementing personalization in eDetailing requires a structured approach. The guide provides a comprehensive checklist that outlines the key steps involved, from defining clear objectives and integrating data sources to developing tailored content and deploying the necessary technology.

This checklist serves as a roadmap for pharmaceutical companies, guiding them through the process of creating and delivering personalized eDetailing experiences that resonate with HCPs and drive measurable results.

The secrets to leveraging storytelling and interactive content to boost HCP engagement.

Storytelling and interactive content are powerful tools for capturing and maintaining HCPs’ attention in the digital age. The guide explores how to combine these elements effectively within eDetailing presentations.

It emphasizes the importance of crafting narratives that are not only informative but also emotionally resonant, making the information more memorable and impactful. Additionally, the guide provides insights into incorporating interactive elements, such as quizzes, polls, and simulations, to create a more engaging and immersive experience for HCPs.

Self-service eDetailing

How to choose the right digital content factory model for your needs.

Pharmaceutical companies have varying needs and resources for eDetailing content creation.
The guide presents three distinct digital content factory (DCF) models: white-glove, hybrid, and self-service. Each model offers a unique approach to content production and management, catering to different budgets, timelines, and levels of in-house expertise.
The guide helps companies assess their specific requirements and select the DCF model that best aligns with their goals and capabilities.

An overview of the top self-service platforms for eDetailing creation.

The guide provides an overview of the leading DCF platforms available in the market for companies opting for a self-service approach. It highlights each platform’s key features and benefits, such as eWizard, Shaman, and IQVIA OCE Digital, enabling companies to make informed decisions based on their specific needs and preferences.
We covered aspects like content creation tools, localization capabilities, analytics, and integration with other systems, empowering companies to choose the platform that best suits their eDetailing workflow.

A guide to selecting the perfect agency to bring your eDetailing vision to life.

Partnering with an agency can be a strategic move for companies seeking external expertise in eDetailing creation. The guide offers a comprehensive framework for selecting the right agency partner.
It emphasizes the importance of considering factors such as experience, technical capabilities, creative approach, regulatory knowledge, client references, cost, and ongoing support.

By following this guide, companies can confidently choose an agency that understands their vision and has the skills and resources to bring it to life, ensuring a successful and impactful eDetailing production and delivery.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to boost your HCP engagement.
Download our guide and unlock the full potential of eDetailing today! 

Building a Salesforce Tool for a Biotech Giant 

While most publications emphasize how leading pharma companies use tech to discover and create innovative drugs, for many businesses, digital transformation extends far beyond the lab setting. Digital solutions help industry players analyze and understand the healthcare providers’ (HCPs) behaviors and better meet their changing needs.  

Yet, to reach these goals, brands must do their homework: organize massive customer datasets, keep them continuously updated, and bring this data to life through user-friendly visuals. Our client, a biopharmaceutical company, knows this firsthand, benefiting from an advanced MarTech solution that gives a bird’s eye view of customers’ data. 

About Our Client 

The biopharmaceutical and biotechnology giant, operating in over 100 countries, offers a lifeline to millions of patients with complex illnesses like cancer and inflammatory conditions. Timely access to these essential services can make a life-saving difference. To prevent any delays, it is pivotal for this pharma brand to continually engage with HCPs and keep the lines of communication open.  

Challenge 

The biopharmaceutical company found itself sitting on a goldmine of customer data within its Salesforce environment. However, this wealth of information presented a challenge – how to effectively organize the data and make it readily accessible to the employees.  

Equally important was trimming the time employees spent wrestling with data updates. Lack of data management made it tough to put a finger on what data was accurate and relevant. Mountains of raw numerical data also left marketing teams blind to patterns in HCPs’ behaviors, affecting their capacity to deliver value to these professionals. 

To solve this, they needed a team with deep Salesforce development expertise and a proven track record in building Lightning Web Components (LWC) applications. Having worked well with Viseven before, the client knew we were the perfect choice to build it. 

Our Process 

We started with a discovery stage, which is a standard part of our process: we gathered the client’s requirements and identified the project scope. Based on these findings, we decided to create a separate module in the Salesforce platform where users can view customer lists, select a particular customer, and assign an account manager to oversee that customer’s account. 

To enhance functionality and efficiency, our team ensured the client could: 

  • Set up new therapeutic areas  
  • Set up new marks or picklist values for tables  
  • Rename, create, and deactivate sections in widgets 
  • Add and delete sections in the rich text format 
  • Update the information in the tables  
  • Draw diagrams and process flows  
  • Export the data in PDF. 

To ensure continuous adherence to client’s expectations, we arranged weekly meetings with a client and conducted frequent demos and user acceptance testing. 

Impact 

The project is still ongoing, but the Salesforce tool has already brought many benefits to the client’s team: 

  • Data-driven decisions: They can now leverage data to improve engagement with healthcare providers (HCPs).  
  • Enhanced communication: Data visualizations make it easier to share insights across the team.  
  • Increased agility: Employees can adjust their strategies on the fly based on up-to-date data.  
  • Global scalability: The tool easily adapts to different countries, streamlining operations.  
  • Faster, more accurate targeting: The ability to make updates minimizes errors in decision-making and ensures more precise targeting efforts. 

If you need MarTech development services, feel free to contact us – we are always ready to help. 

Patient Support Programs: What Are They & What They Offer

We’ve all been there: one day you get sick and a physician prescribes multiple medications to put you back on your feet, each with specific instructions and potential side effects to monitor. On top of that, you’re faced with navigating the maze of insurance approvals, high out-of-pocket costs, and a general lack of understanding about your own treatment options and plan, all while being sick and dazed. Sounds familiar and quite overwhelming, doesn’t it?

This is the reality for many patients, which is why an increasing number of pharmaceutical companies are rolling out Patient Support Programs (PSPs) — comprehensive initiatives designed to empower and guide individuals through their healthcare journeys. These programs go beyond just providing medication, they offer a multifaceted approach to supporting patients from diagnosis to managing their condition long-term.

Let us take a closer look at the Patient Support Programs, their development and implementation process, the different types, challenges they face, and their future within healthcare delivery.

What are Patient Support Programs (PSPs)?

Patient Support Programs (PSPs) are initiatives, that often come in the form of custom mobile apps, offered by pharmaceutical companies to provide education, resources, and services to patients prescribed certain medications or undergoing specific treatments.

Source: Deloitte, Common patient support activities

At their core, patient support programs aim to break down common barriers that hinder successful treatment outcomes. Many PSPs provide financial assistance, copay assistance, or free drug supplies for eligible patients. Patients struggling with adherence will find medication reminders, symptom trackers, and direct nurse support lines. Educational resources and counseling services are available to help patients better understand their condition and regimen to avoid confusion.

But PSPs don’t just benefit patients, they’re a strategic investment for pharmaceutical companies as well. By enhancing medication adherence and persistence, PSPs drive increased product utilization and revenue. They also allow companies to collect invaluable real-world data, build brand loyalty, and demonstrate a genuine commitment to improving lives beyond the bottom line.

How Pharma Companies Can Implement Patient Support Programs

Source: IQVIA

To develop the best-in-class patient support programs, you need to collaborate closely with stakeholders like business strategists, and medical, pharmacovigilance, and sales teams.

  • Program development — Pharma companies first identify medications or disease areas that would benefit from enhanced patient support. They assess the needs of those patient populations and design the services or resources to be offered through the PSP. This includes any financial assistance, educational materials, app development, nurse counseling services, other features.
  • Contracting vendors — Many pharma companies outsource part or all of the PSP operations to specialty vendors and third-party service providers. These vendors are contracted to handle tasks like operating call centers, distributing copay cards, developing apps and websites, and providing nursing staff.
  • Data integration — The patient support services generate valuable data that needs to be integrated back to the pharma companies. This requires building data platforms and processes to aggregate information from vendors on patient demographics, medication utilization, clinical outcomes, and patient-reported data.
  • Enrollment channels — Pharmaceutical companies work to create easy enrollment channels so patients can access the PSP. This includes physician outreach so providers can refer patients, as well as direct-to-patient channels like websites and call centers.
  • Staff training — On the pharma side, internal staff like sales reps and medical liaisons are trained on the details of the PSP offerings so they can appropriately educate providers and patients.
  • Patient outreach — Pharma companies conduct direct-to-patient outreach and marketing to drive awareness and utilization of the PSP services. Tactics like social media, targeted advertising, and advocacy group partnerships are employed.
  • Metrics and analysis — PSP performance is measured through ongoing data analysis of metrics like program enrollment, persistency rates, patient satisfaction surveys, and ROI calculations looking at the PSP’s impact on medication adherence.
  • Continuous improvement — Based on patient feedback and operational data, pharma companies continually refine and enhance their patient support program offerings over time to optimize their investments in these comprehensive patient support initiatives.

While PSPs require significant cross-functional coordination, pharmaceutical companies see them as valuable pharma marketing tools for improving product performance and patient outcomes.

Types of Patient Support Programs

PSPs differ based on the therapeutic sector and particular medications, however, their main goal is to provide access and help patients overcome barriers to healthcare access and adherence, ultimately improving their health outcomes.

Patient assistance programs

Patient assistance programs are mainly offered in the U.S. to lessen the financial burdens and help patients and their caregivers get the medication. These programs help review the current insurance coverage, assist with prior authorization if needed, provide trial and copay card information, and check if a patient is eligible to enroll in a financial assistance program. 

Patient education programs

Patient education programs aim to improve patients’ and caregivers’ understanding of the disease and the medication or devices that treat it. Patients and caregivers can receive instructional assistance from medical providers over the phone or via digital platforms. In addition, medical writers create patient-friendly visual educational materials. Patient education also entails adherence outreach meaning patients are followed up to share their experiences and struggles in order to be assisted and encouraged to stay adherent.

Provider support

A crucial strategy of patient support programs is equipping healthcare providers with resources to streamline patient access to medications and enhance education. Programs supply providers with sample products, device demos, FAQ materials, visual guides, copay cards, financial assistance info, and more. This allows providers to initiate therapy seamlessly. Additionally, PSPs assist providers by providing billing and coding support to ensure proper reimbursement for medication administration services.

Challenges Associated with PSPs for Pharma

Different types of PSPs offer a wide variety of benefits to life science businesses and healthcare facilities. So why doesn’t every company and clinic just use one? Well, there are certain challenges to implementing patient support programs that we must look at.

  • One major challenge is the substantial cost and resource intensiveness involved in developing and operating comprehensive PSPs. Funding components like call centers, copay assistance, technology solutions, and nursing staff support can be extremely costly, especially when trying to scale these programs.
  • Integrating data from multiple vendors and platforms delivering PSP services is technically complex. Creating unified views of the patient journey and outcomes requires robust data management capabilities.
  • Ensuring regulatory compliance around areas like product promotion, privacy, data sharing, and avoiding improper inducements is also an ever-present obligation. PSPs have to meticulously follow the rules and implement tight compliance processes to steer clear of any violations.
  • Quantifying the return on investment is another major hurdle. While PSPs aim to improve medication adherence and overall outcomes, pinpointing their precise impact is difficult given the many variables at play in disease management.
  • Even with promotional efforts, driving patient awareness and adoption of PSP offerings can be an uphill battle, particularly among harder-to-reach populations. Personalizing the experience to diverse patient needs, health literacies, and preferences is resource-intensive.
  • Coordinating priorities and sharing data among all the stakeholders — pharma companies, providers, payers, and vendors — adds another layer of complexity with so many parties involved. Sustaining long-term engagement is tough too, as patients’ circumstances continually evolve. And in an increasingly crowded PSP market, differentiating your program and delivering a truly superior experience gets more challenging by the day.

Overcoming these hurdles demands strategic long-term planning, investments in robust technology platforms, effective vendor management, and a commitment to continually enhancing offerings based on real-world insights over time. It’s a major undertaking, but one that pharmaceutical companies are prioritizing to support patients and steward their product portfolios effectively.

Future of PSPs in Custom App Development

There’s no denying the growing demand for digital patient services in the pharmaceutical industry these days. 48% of adults are already using or interested in pharma’s digital offerings, and a whopping 68% of physicians are more likely to prescribe a product backed by solid patient support and services. Pharmaceutical companies clearly recognize this trend, with most, if not all, rolling out various digital engagement programs in recent years.

And it’s not just about checking boxes anymore. New technologies are opening up fresh channels and enabling more holistic, comprehensive patient support initiatives. A recent study highlighted a clear shift away from that transactional mindset focused solely on enrollment and training. Instead, there’s a move towards more collaborative, integrated programs laser-focused on truly empowering patients to live well with their conditions. Think tailored interventions, behavior modification, and support extending to caregivers and beyond.

These trends, coupled with digital innovations and better access to patient data, present an exciting opportunity for pharma. They can now craft bespoke healthcare solutions finely tuned to the unique needs of different patient groups in a targeted, value-additive way. And the potential upsides are huge — online disease management services have been shown to improve chronic care outcomes by up to 10%.

Final Thoughts

At the end of the day, patients crave simplicity and customization so they can take ownership of their wellness journey. They want solutions intuitive enough to fully participate in their own care. By tapping into new technologies, pharma can finally deliver on those desires with patient-centric digital offerings that resonate on a personal level.

Patient support programs by themselves do not drive differentiation or boost trust and engagement. Programs have to be well-designed and provide patients with personalization. Fortunately, the technology is there to help pharmaceutical companies achieve these goals. If you want to develop a user-friendly custom healthcare app to boost your patient support program, don’t hesitate to contact Viseven. We have nearly 20 years of experience in pharma solutions development and can make your vision a reality.

The Role of Advanced Portals in Modern Healthcare 

Healthcare providers (HCPs) must stay up to date on the latest research, clinical trials, and innovative medications to deliver high-quality, safe patient care. The main challenge, however, is finding time for self-education.

On average, a physician sees 20 patients a day. Add electronic health records keeping, administrative tasks, and personal obligations, and the time crunch for learning becomes evident. 

HCP portals were designed to address this issue. These platforms offer personalized summaries of the most critical findings in the field, freeing up time for professionals to focus on what matters most: their patients. In this blog post, the Viseven team will explore the benefits of HCP portals in healthcare and offer real-world examples of how they make a difference. 

What Are HCP Portals? 

HCP portals are digital solutions that allow healthcare professionals to stay abreast of current trends and news relevant to their specialty or area of interest. These tools often provide personalized online health information on clinical trial updates, medication releases, upcoming conferences, and networking events. Healthcare portals can also serve as platforms for communication with industry peers and have additional features such as patient data management and analytics. 

Biggest challenges HCPs currently face 

Today, HCPs face many challenges, from administrative burdens to a need for more informed decision-making. Let’s discuss them in more detail. 

  • Administrative burden: HCPs are overwhelmed with paperwork and bureaucratic tasks. According to the latest findings, professionals spend approximately 4.5 hours daily on electronic health records (EHRs). Unsurprisingly, this workload reduces their time for direct patient care and impacts the quality of healthcare services. Being unable to spend sufficient time with patients, they often experience a lack of fulfillment, chronic fatigue, and burnout. 
  • Staying up-to-date with the latest research: HCPs are drowning in to-do lists; unfortunately, continuing education often stays on the back burner. Instead of being exposed to targeted updates on what is relevant to them, they are bombarded with irrelevant studies, events, sales pitches, and invitations. The HCPs need relevant info on the latest discoveries in their fields, drug developments, and relevant patient-doctor cooperation techniques. Medical web portals have the potential to resolve this challenge for HCPs and help them improve the quality of medical services.
  • Communication security: HCPs often share patient information with their peers to seek second opinions or offer their perspectives. However, this data is highly sensitive and vulnerable to hacker attacks. Providers face the challenge of finding compliant communication platforms that ensure fully secure communication. 
  • Lack of informed decisions: The sheer volume of data, like demographics, medical history, and treatment plans, makes it hard for HCPs to see their patients’ overall health status. Because they cannot easily spot patterns in the data, specialists may not arrive at the optimal evidence-based care for a patient. 

Role of Advanced Portals in Modern Healthcare 

We brought up all these challenges for a good reason. Now, we want to show you how advanced medical portals can mitigate them successfully: 

Enhancing HCP productivity 

An advanced health portal often streamlines HCPs’ workflows by automating routine tasks, like sending reminders or scheduling appointments. Integrations with billing platforms or EHR systems allow them to manage administrative tasks more accurately and efficiently. This means they no longer have to manually create invoices, track payments, or update patient health records. Automation enhances their productivity while lowering the error rate to almost zero. 

Making self-education easy 

Health portals provide centralized platforms with valuable content, such as clinical guidelines, articles, news, online courses, and references. By storing highly personalized information in one place, health professionals save time when conducting research. 

Safeguarding health information exchange

Compliant HCP portals enable specialists to communicate without compromising patient confidentiality. Health care portals or employee health portals must comply with relevant regulatory legislations such as HIPAA or GDPR. That is why developing web portals in healthcare requires technical expertise and full compliance on the software vendor’s side. Professionals can message their senior peers to consult on complex cases or rare diseases and share lab results. At the same time, experienced and knowledgeable HCPs can offer expert advice when needed. 

Supporting data-driven decision-making 

A siloed patient care, where HCPs are unaware of medical histories or prior treatments, can lead to poor clinical outcomes. With HCP portals, all pieces of the puzzle come together, allowing healthcare professionals to view relevant patient data and take a holistic approach to therapy. This helps identify correlations and trends that might otherwise be overlooked, predict the course of the disease, and find the most effective treatment based on the patient’s unique needs.  

Advanced portals may also offer data visualization features. A single dashboard or graph can convey more than a thousand figures and words. By simplifying complex information, HCPs can effectively communicate insights with industry peers. 

Things to Consider When Developing an HCP Portal 

To make your portal truly valuable to HCPs, it is essential to pay attention to the following aspects: 

Data Security 

Data security is pivotal, and the statistics prove it. Over 500 healthcare facilities suffered data breaches in the past year, affecting more than 112 million patients. On average, it takes 236 days to recover from a breach, not to mention the $500 cost per compromised health record. 

Your HCP portal must comply with HIPAA or GDPR to prevent authorized access to sensitive patient data. In other words, you must implement robust security measures, like encryption and authentication, to ensure that only HCPs access private information. Access controls are important in controlling who accesses what information. 

User Experience 

Pharmaceutical businesses can alienate HCPs with designs that are cumbersome and difficult to navigate. User-unfriendly elements, such as poorly placed icons or verbose language, can overwhelm HCPs and drive them to abandon the portal. 

As noted, HCPs are occupied with patient care and EHR-related tasks. They do not have time to learn how to use a complex portal. That is why it is essential to have intuitive navigation and concise language that mimics natural conversation. Besides, a user-friendly portal must be adaptable to HCPs’ unique accessibility needs, like adjustable fonts, high contrast settings, or multilingual support.

Relevant Content 

Consumers tend to get annoyed when companies bombard them with marketing-centric content. This creates an impression that profits are the major motivator rather than customer satisfaction. A recent study reveals that 62% of HCPs believe pharmaceutical marketing materials consist solely of advertisements. This finding highlights the HCPs’ frustration and wish for more personalized information that brings value to their practice. 

Data analytics and AI help life sciences brands craft engaging, tailored content for HCPs. AI algorithms shed light on complex data patterns and trends, letting them capitalize on HCP preferences for content type or format.  

On top of that, the omnichannel approach to marketing helps businesses to liberate their content from the constraints of platforms and formats and focus on a hyper-personalized experience for the audiences. For instance, businesses can now publish purely informative content on healthcare platforms for HCPs and then supplement it with more marketing-oriented materials across other media. Such an approach is at the core of Viseven vision for the future of content marketing in Pharma.

Real Life Healthcare Portal Examples that Improve the HCP Experience 

The Viseven team has spent more than a decade developing robust HCP portals, and now we want to share some of their success stories: 

Medical Portal for Boosting HCP Loyalty 

Our client, a global biopharmaceutical brand, approached us to help build an HCP portal showcasing its unique expertise. The portal had to feature valuable content on the latest research, training, and events. One key goal was strengthening the brand’s position as a trusted resource.  

To achieve this ambitious goal, we had to ensure their content was safe and evidence-based. Our experts integrated the portal with one of the leading content management systems (CMS) for easy online access to Medical Legal Regulatory (MLR)– approved materials. 

Additionally, we implemented Google Analytics to understand how HCPs engaged with the platform: how long they stayed on the page, what links they clicked, and which articles had high bounce rates. These insights helped us tailor content specifically to the HCPs’ areas of interest and needs. 

As a result, the pharmaceutical company saw enhanced engagement among HCPs, who would value access to valuable scientific content over intrusive advertising. This way, the HCPs should come to trust the company more and become loyal customers over time. 

Medical portal functionality 

Healthcare Portal to Drive Higher HCP Engagement 

Our client, an international pharmaceutical company with a presence in over 140 countries, wanted to build a web portal to deliver engaging content for HCPs. They also needed consolidated storage where marketers could easily find materials that have already undergone the MLR process. 

We created a secure portal that integrates with both a CRM system and a CMS, providing easy access to MLR-approved content. Additionally, we provided marketers with a custom analytics tool for deeper insights into HCP preferences. For local administrators, we ensured a user-friendly WordPress interface for adding podcasts, videos, articles, and even managing events. 

The company saw significant improvements thanks to this approach to HCP portal development. Storing approved assets became much easier, saving both time and effort in creating quality content. Powerful analytics tools helped them not only increase engagement with HCPs but also build stronger, lasting relationships. It is no surprise that more than 20,000 HCPs became loyal portal users.

Build a Robust HCP Portal with Viseven 

Today’s HCPs want easy access to relevant content without worrying about data security. Therefore, pharmaceutical companies that deliver secure, user-friendly HCP portals stand apart from competitors, position themselves as thought leaders, and foster strong customer relationships.  

As a leading MarTech service provider with over 14 years of experience in life sciences and pharma, we have helped numerous clients launch robust HCP portals. Our dedication to client satisfaction is reflected in their consistent 95% positive feedback rate.

Viseven has assisted over 100 world-renowned brands in navigating marketing transformation, driving engagement, and enhancing brand recognition. If you also need help, feel free to reach out to us, and we will discuss the ways to empower your digital transformation. 

Pharma 4.0: What You Need to Know

The pharma industry is on the cusp of a digital revolution, and Pharma 4.0 is leading the charge. With the global Pharma 4.0 market expected to reach $62.7 billion by 2032, this game-changing concept is set to transform the way drugs are discovered, developed, manufactured, marketed, and delivered.

But implementing Pharma 4.0 isn’t a simple task. It requires a comprehensive strategy, a culture of innovation, and a willingness to embrace change. In this article, we’ll explore what Pharma 4.0 entails, the key technologies driving its adoption, and the steps your company can take to successfully implement it in 2024 and beyond.

What is Pharma 4.0?

The Pharma 4.0 definition lies in the transformative adoption of Industry 4.0 principles and cutting-edge digital technologies within the pharmaceutical industry. It represents a paradigm shift towards intelligent, interconnected, and data-driven pharmaceutical manufacturing processes. 

At its core, Pharma 4.0 leverages technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, the Internet of Things (IoT), cloud computing, and big data analytics to enhance efficiency, quality, compliance, and end-to-end visibility across the entire pharmaceutical value chain.

Bringing Industry 4.0 to Pharma

To understand the industrial revolutions’ impact on pharma and life sciences industries, let’s explore the past.

The first industrial revolution (1760 to 1830) was characterized by the transition from manual production methods to machines powered by water and steam. This first industrial revolution didn’t have any instant influence on pharma, but it planted the seeds of the future revolution.

The second industrial revolution (late 1800s and early 1900s) was marked by the introduction of electricity and the assembly line which enabled mass production. For pharma, it was a period of advancement, as Pfizer was established in 1849, Bayer in 1863, and Lilly in 1876. Pfizer supplied medicine for the Union during the war, Bayer commercialized aspirin, and Lilly focused on R&D and manufacturing. In the late 18th century, Switzerland swiftly developed pharma, as textile and dye manufacturers realized that their products had antiseptic properties.

The third industrial revolution (late 20th century) was driven by the advent of computers, automation, and electronics, leading to a more automated and programmable manufacturing process. This period in pharma saw the introduction of many familiar institutions and the mass production of essential technologies. Particle counters became widely available, computers facilitated research and information sharing, and communication technology enabled unprecedented global collaboration.

The fourth industrial revolution, or Industry 4.0, refers to the ongoing transformation of traditional manufacturing and industrial practices through the integration of advanced digital technologies in business processes, like IoT, AI, cloud computing, augmented reality, big data and analytics, advanced robotics, additive manufacturing (3D printing), and cyber-physical systems. These technologies make their way into the pharmaceutical industry, driving digital transformation and creating Pharma 4.0.

So, what key needs guide companies on the way to Pharma 4.0? 

Pharma is strictly regulated, so it faces rigorous scrutiny when implementing changes that influence production and related aspects, creating a need for a reliable pharmaceutical quality system. Pharmaceutical manufacturers, vendors, and professionals have already begun exploring viable applications of Industry 4.0 within their organizations, while the International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE) is working towards better defining the various aspects that characterize Pharma 4.0.

While this solution is still far from being fully realized, and the current progress is likely just the first steps in a lengthy journey with an uncertain final destination, the ISPE European Pharma 4.0 Conference emphasized several key messages that guide along this path.

Beyond automation 

Automation alone will not be the sole transformative element in Industry 4.0 programs. Several other key factors, such as quality and holistic control strategy, workforce, efficiency, integration, and collaboration, will play a fundamental role in shaping the pharma smart factories of the future.

Collaborative ecosystems

The term “value supply chain” highlights the need for companies to proactively collaborate with partners in an integrated supply chain, creating a system where information, raw materials, and products flow freely. Machine and equipment vendors must take an active role in building these streamlined systems.

Leveraging existing data

While technological innovations in the form of new equipment, software, and services are necessary for a meaningful Industry 4.0 implementation, existing data sets should not be discarded. Advanced analysis techniques can be applied to existing data to provide useful, production-relevant insights. In this context, data integrity also becomes a major concern for the pharma businesses.

“By Design” approach

Industry 4.0 will involve not only innovation and technological breakthroughs but also improvements that allow pharmaceutical manufacturers to incorporate specific features into machines, software, or processes at their point of creation.

Human-centric approach

Although Industry 4.0 may seem focused on machines, integration, methodologies, and processes, it is ultimately based on the most powerful asset any company could have: its workforce. The human factor is a key success driver, as the objective is not to replace humans with machines but to allow humans to work on value-added activities where their creativity and problem-solving capabilities can be fully utilized.

Embracing change

Believing in the upsides of Industry 4.0 is essential to find the next steps and see them through to implementation. Being disruptive can allow for finding new and radical solutions to long-standing problems.

Pharma is embracing these Industry 4.0 technologies and messages across the entire value chain, from drug discovery to manufacturing, quality control, supply chain management, and regulatory compliance. This pharma digitalization promises to usher in a new era of intelligent, connected, and data-driven pharmaceutical operations, where personalized medicine, agility, and operational excellence reign supreme.

Advantages of Pharma 4.0

Overall, Pharma 4.0 offers pharmaceutical companies the opportunity to transform their operations, enhance product quality and safety, improve efficiency, and meet the evolving needs of patients and regulatory bodies, ultimately driving innovation and long-term business success. But let’s discuss the advantages one by one.

Better operational efficiency

By leveraging technologies like automation, robotics, IoT, and cyber-physical systems, pharma companies can streamline and optimize their manufacturing processes, leading to higher productivity, reduced downtime, and lower operational costs.

Higher product quality 

Advanced technologies like real-time monitoring, process analytics, and AI-driven quality control systems can help ensure consistent product quality, reduce deviations, and minimize the risk of batch failures or product recalls.

Improved supply chain visibility 

Incorporating technologies like blockchain, IoT sensors, and digital twins can provide full visibility and traceability throughout the pharmaceutical supply chain, improving logistics, reducing counterfeiting risks, and enabling better inventory management.

Accelerated time-to-market 

By leveraging advanced modeling, simulation, and additive manufacturing (3D printing) technologies, pharma companies can accelerate the drug development process, reduce time-to-market for new products, and respond more quickly to market demands.

Personalized medicine 

Additive manufacturing (3D printing) and modular production facilities enabled by Pharma 4.0 can facilitate the production of personalized medicines and small batches tailored to individual patient needs, supporting the growing trend of personalized medicine.

Regulatory compliance 

Pharma 4.0 technologies, such as IoT, data analytics, and blockchain, can enhance data integrity, traceability, and transparency, helping companies meet evolving regulatory requirements and maintain compliance throughout the product lifecycle.

Pharma 4.0: Step-by-Step Instruction

Digital maturity is a key facilitator of the Pharma 4.0 operating model. Industrie 4.0 Maturity Index outlines six phases of digital maturity, from computerization to adaptability. 

Companies at the maximum level of digital maturity will be self-adapting, capable of enduring tumultuous economic periods and fast-shifting corporate objectives to capitalize on opportunities.

#1 Computerization

The first stage of digital maturity involves automating simple manual tasks with digital technologies. The idea is to identify repetitive operations done better by computers, laying the groundwork for a digital infrastructure.

#2 Connectivity

Data silos emerge due to information technology, operation technology, and communication systems being out of sync with one another, To allow employees to complete their job efficiently, you need to integrate the systems so that data flows smoothly.

#3 Visibility

At this stage of digital maturity, many companies can begin seeing gradual improvements. The interconnectivity between people, machines, and processes generates a comprehensive digital footprint of production activities. This wealth of data can be leveraged to fuel real-time, data-driven decision-making.

#4 Transparency

As more data is collected, it unveils new insights into intricate systems that were previously obscured. Advanced analytics open up opportunities for optimization and improvement across various domains.

#5 Predictability

At this stage, detailed production records allow companies to predict and rectify issues before they occur.

#6 Adaptability

Systems foresee problems and automatically take appropriate action. At its most evolved, these systems are self-correcting and autonomous.

Pharmaceutical Manufacturing in the Era of Pharma 4.0: A Glimpse into the Future

The pharmaceutical industry’s future looks to be a fully digitalized and interconnected manufacturing landscape. Smart factories use modern technologies to connect all aspects of the manufacturing process. This enables real-time optimization, predictive maintenance, and autonomous decision-making capabilities. These factories have the potential to anticipate and address possible issues before they occur by leveraging IoT sensors, advanced analytics, and machine learning algorithms. This results in reduced downtime and uninterrupted production. Moreover, the integration of cyber-physical systems enables virtual simulations and rapid prototyping, improving manufacturing processes.

The increased need for personalized medicine has resulted in a trend toward modular and flexible production methods. Additive manufacturing and modular production facilities enable the development of personalized medicine and small batches that are suited to particular patient requirements. Additive manufacturing enables the development of complicated drug delivery systems and tailored dosage forms, whereas modular facilities allow for the rapid reconfiguration of manufacturing lines for diverse pharmaceutical product types and batch sizes. This paves the path for mass customization and patient-centric manufacturing, which will revolutionize pharmaceutical production and delivery.

However, while the benefits of Pharma 4.0 are substantial, its implementation is not without challenges.

Challenges in the implementation of Pharma 4.0

Legacy systems, data integrity concerns, regulatory hurdles, and resistance to change can act as barriers to the successful adoption of Pharma 4.0 technologies.

To overcome these challenges, pharma companies must develop comprehensive strategies that address data governance, cybersecurity measures, and regulatory compliance. Partnering with digital technology providers and regulatory bodies can help navigate the complexities of implementing Pharma 4.0 solutions while ensuring compliance with industry standards. It’s also paramount to maintain effective communication between all stakeholders, including executives, managers, vendors, pharmaceutical MSLs, and HCPs to ensure alignment and address concerns early.

Fostering a culture of innovation and change management is crucial to facilitate the successful integration of these technologies. By embracing Pharma 4.0 and its accompanying best practices, pharmaceutical companies can unlock new levels of efficiency, quality, and innovation in the manufacturing of life-saving drugs.

Implement Pharma 4.0 with Viseven

The pharmaceutical value chain doesn’t stop with the manufacturing process. The goal is to deliver the pharmaceutical products to the final consumer — patients. To successfully achieve that, it’s not enough just to produce drugs without any other communication with your customers. That’s why investing time and resources in marketing is equally crucial as in other areas. Pharma 4.0 technologies and tools can help you optimize your marketing processes whether you’re promoting Rx or OTC products, and enhance communication with your target audience. Let’s learn how Viseven’s eWizard platform introduces Pharma 4.0 technologies into your marketing.

eWizard is a content experience platform tailored for pharmaceutical marketing that enables companies to plan, create, collaborate on, distribute, manage, and integrate digital content at scale. The platform is powered with AI features that simplify content management and empower businesses to create personalized and relevant content while complying with MLR rules. Here’s a breakdown of eWizard’s AI-driven features.

MLR acceleration engine

MLR acceleration engine can speed up time-to-market by predicting the likelihood of content approval and alerting content creators when revisions are required. The solution also lets users upload emails and eDetailers for error analysis that can detect context mismatches and skipped references.

AI algorithms play a crucial role in content creation and approval processes. They not only identify incorrect or non-compliant content pieces but also provide valuable suggestions on how content creators can rectify these issues, thereby increasing the chances of approval on the initial submission. Users have access to a set of rules and corresponding comments for assets that have not been approved. Leveraging these comments, content creators can adjust their messaging, streamlining the overall content approval process.

Auto-tagging

You can leverage auto-tagging to create highly personalized and compliant marketing campaigns that resonate with your target audience. AI software allows to automatically categorize and organize structured and unstructured digital content. The system utilizes computer vision to tag audio and video content, and natural language processing to tag text files.

With these tags and the organized databases that store them, pharmaceutical companies can gain valuable insights into the performance of their content modules across various channels. This data-driven approach allows them to identify the most engaging content pieces that truly connect with their target audience, facilitating more effective and targeted marketing efforts.

Smart search 

Thanks to the auto-tagging functionality and a wide array of tags, your assets are enhanced with additional contextual metadata, enabling smart search. With smart search you can find the needed content pieces in a matter of seconds, even if you handle vast amounts of data (which is usually the case for pharma), streamlining content production.

AI-simulated speaker presentations

eWizard enables users to produce compelling AI-simulated speaker presentations. Our clients can create content by selecting and animating an avatar that looks like a person giving a presentation. eWizard’s avatars look like actual humans, with realistic facial expressions. The solution also includes several languages and voice samples for additional customization. Companies can dramatically boost healthcare professionals’ engagement by using avatar presentations without investing considerable costs in production.

Summing Up

The future of pharma hinges on the successful implementation of Pharma 4.0. Companies that embrace this transformation will gain a significant competitive edge, driving efficiency, quality, and innovation in medicine development and delivery. 

However, Pharma 4.0 is more than just a technology transformation; it necessitates a culture of constant adaptation, collaboration, and investment in workforce upskilling. Those who grab this opportunity, cultivate an innovative culture, and develop a comprehensive Pharma 4.0 strategy will be in a strong position to impact the future of healthcare and provide tailored, precise medicines to patients globally. The time to act is now, and the rewards for those who successfully navigate this digital transformation will be immense.

Transforming Healthcare Interactions with Advanced Compliance Management System

In the context of the healthcare industry, maintaining regulatory oversight and compliance is an everyday effort. Regulations change, systems become outdated, and the consequences of noncompliance can be exceedingly dire. At the same time, efficiency and patient experience cannot be compromised.  

Let us look at Viseven’s case study that shows how our Advanced Compliance Management System (CMS) helped one of our clients overcome these challenges, altering the way healthcare interactions are managed. 

Structured Solution for Pressing Challenges 

The Advanced Compliance and Interaction Management System was designed on a robust Salesforce-based platform to reinvent the existing healthcare interaction management ensuring seamless coordination and comprehensive engagement assessments. To achieve the goals of the project, we had to address three major challenges: 

1. Resource allocation: Faced with a shortage of skilled Salesforce developers, the team initiated a rapid recruitment campaign and partnerships with educational institutions to bolster future talent pools. 

2. Accelerated deployment: To meet critical compliance deadlines, the team adopted an Agile methodology, which enabled us to adapt our approach and dynamically allocate resources as needed quickly. 

3. Ensuring compliance: The compliance management system integrated automated compliance checks to streamline processes and reduce human errors, with compliance officers involved from project inception for risk management and policy enforcement. 

Adopting Agile methodologies and having weekly meetings to keep all stakeholders in the loop were crucial for this project’s success. These practices allowed us to stay flexible and quickly adapt as new requirements came up. 

Project Outcomes 

The deployment of the Advanced Compliance and Interaction Management System set new standards in client’s operational efficiency, compliance, and user satisfaction, marking a significant milestone in healthcare interaction management. Together with the client, we achieved two major project goals: 

  • Improved operational efficiency: Automation reduced task times from hours to minutes, with seamless integration into existing workflows. 
  • Increased client satisfaction and compliance: The system not only met predefined objectives but also exceeded expectations with features like advanced analytics and mobile access, while ensuring compliance. 

Contact us to find out more about our custom solutions development services and how we help businesses solve their compliance challenges. 

Our experts are always prepared to consult you on digital transformation. Contact our experts today to discuss how we can help you achieve your goals!