Boston Scientific
Transforming Lives Through Innovation

Achieving better healthcare outcomes requires more than adopting the latest technologies; it calls for developing tailored solutions that meet the increasing demand for care amid limited staff and lab resources. The global medical technology leader Boston Scientific embodies this imperative and takes a customer-centric approach to understanding the needs of clinicians, resolving their underlying challenges and laying the foundation for long-term sustained growth.

Utilizing its ADVANTICS™ portfolio of advisory and digital solutions, Boston Scientific’s team collaborates with trusted healthcare experts from leading healthcare institutions across Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA). Together, they develop adaptable solutions that enhance growth, operational efficiency, financial health and overall patient outcomes.

A pivotal element of this strategy is the expansion of access to under-penetrated therapies. The company leverages its expertise in specific therapeutic areas to empower healthcare providers to offer cutting-edge treatments to a broader patient base. By identifying and treating patients earlier and more efficiently, those in need receive better care and advanced medical solutions that may have previously been out of reach.

As patient volumes for such therapies increase without a proportional increase in staff or lab capacity, Boston Scientific introduces strategies and tools to streamline processes and optimize the use of existing resources. For example, integration of digital tools and AI-based platforms with an hospital’s electronic medical records (EMR) system simplify patient data management and reduce the administrative load. These innovations allow healthcare professionals to focus on patient care, which improves overall treatment efficacy and delivers better outcomes with existing resources and capabilities.

Another cornerstone of Boston Scientific’s approach is enhancing patient satisfaction through improved care experiences. By supporting the shift to simpler, shorter procedures, the company helps hospitals shorten patient stays and improve the overall patient experience, fostering long-term loyalty for the hospital and its patients. Additionally, by developing cost-efficient solutions, Boston Scientific assists hospitals in optimizing their efficiency alongside their clinical outcomes, ensuring that they can sustain high-quality care delivery.

Boston Scientific’s commitment to enhancing healthcare services is also reflected in its innovative products. A notable example is HeartLogic™ Heart Failure Diagnostic, the first NICE-approved diagnostic for heart failure that has demonstrated accurate detection of patients at risk of heart failure events up to 34 days in advance.

It incorporates multiple sensors and combines trend data into one composite index, sending clinicians a single actionable alert and detailed report when it crosses a clinician-set threshold. This allows early intervention and the potential to reduce patient hospitalizations. NICE recognized the HeartLogic diagnostic as the most accurate and consistent heart failure algorithm available in the UK market. It has officially recommended HeartLogic Heart Failure Diagnostic as a viable option for patients in the UK.

Such innovations underscore Boston Scientific’s robust investment in research and development (R&D), with over 10 percent of revenue funneled back into developing innovative technologies via internal R&D and external investments in early startups.

Kathleen Van Vlierberghe, vice president of healthcare solutions and partnerships and inside sales EMEA, says, “Our commitment to patient-centered innovation remains strong as we continue to enhance our products and expertise, building on our established credibility and commercial acumen.”

Another strong example is the ADVANTICS ClearPath platform, a versatile digital health solution that addresses the critical need for digital pathway management and enhances patient management across various therapies.

One application of ClearPath is its left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) solution for atrial fibrillation (AF) patients. This feature enables real-time screening and identification of eligible hospitalized patients to ensure timely treatment. In 2023 alone, ClearPath supported the implantation of Boston Scientific’s WATCHMAN device for over 150 patients within the EU who might have otherwise been missed.

One key element that we find incredibly effective is collaborating with our customers to co-create solutions. This process fosters peer-to-peer sharing of best practices. For instance, when a hospital successfully implements change management or improves efficiency with our support, we share their success story with others facing similar challenges, offering valuable insights into their approach

ClearPath integrates seamlessly with hospital information systems and automatically assesses patient information across departments. This fundamentally improves patient and physician experiences. ClearPath’s integrated dashboard features a step-by-step workflow with tasks, checklists and reminders. It streamlines clinical operations, accelerates patient care adoption and improves intra-department communication.

Partnering for Progress

Boston Scientific exemplifies a commitment to understanding and meeting the unique demands of healthcare providers. By centering its customer engagement model on key clinical stakeholders, the company taps into a deep well of insights regarding patient care needs, setting a foundation for customized solutions.

The engagement process begins with identifying and engaging stakeholders and conducting a comprehensive assessment. Boston Scientific’s consultants analyze the customer’s current operations, referral networks and resource allocations at hospitals or clinics. This detailed mapping exercise allows the team to identify areas for improvement and develop customized solutions that resonate with each customer’s specific challenges. The consultants employ a milestone-driven approach to define clear objectives and key performance indicators (KPI) that lead to strong outcomes.

Implementation is characterized by continuous collaboration and periodic evaluations with the clinical teams and project sponsors. This phase ensures that the strategies deployed are seamlessly integrated as they deliver against the predefined KPIs. By the conclusion of a project, customers are equipped with effective strategies to thrive in a dynamic healthcare environment and sustain long-term growth. Feedback mechanisms and ongoing support further refine the effectiveness of the engagements.

“One key element that we find incredibly effective is collaborating with our customers to co-create solutions. This process fosters peer-to-peer sharing of best practices. For instance, when a hospital successfully implements change management or improves efficiency with our support, we share their success story with others facing similar challenges, offering valuable insights into their approach,” explains Van Vlierberghe.

Boston Scientific’s customer-centric approach and cutting-edge medical technologies have already enabled numerous healthcare facilities to improve patient outcomes and operational efficiencies.

A notable example of such partnerships includes Boston Scientific’s collaboration with a hospital in Liverpool since 2004, evolving alongside the customer to meet emerging needs. Recently, the company digitalized the hospital’s coronary intervention procedures, significantly improving patient and clinician experiences. The hospital implemented a digital platform that enabled hospital staff to communicate with patients before and after therapy. This partnership yielded tangible benefits— streamlined operations enhancing efficiency, expanded patient treatment capacity with existing staff, and heightened patient satisfaction, fostering loyalty.

Boston Scientific has also deployed ADVANTICS™ ezPro to optimize inventory and digitalize end-to-end supply chain management across European hospitals. Its recent implementation involves a hospital in South Africa as well. Addressing financial constraints and reducing errors associated with manual processes led to significant cost efficiencies. Optimized transport patterns further reduced environmental impacts.

With over 180 active collaborations in EMEA, Boston Scientific is keen on further advancing its digital solutions. Continuous enhancements to the ClearPath platform are designed to support patients with implanted devices throughout their healthcare journey, from early detection to ongoing monitoring and follow-up.

Boston Scientific’s narrative of partnership and technological advancement underscores its pivotal role in shaping a more efficient and patient-focused healthcare landscape. As the company continues to expand its global footprint, its commitment to addressing the evolving needs of healthcare providers and patients is more evident than ever, heralding a new era of medical care innovation.

Kathleen Van Vlierberghe’s Strategic Journey in the Medical Technology Sector

Kathleen Van Vlierberghe is a seasoned professional who is based in Belgium. She has a background in pharmacy and an MBA in marketing. Her career began in the pharmaceutical industry with roles at Johnson & Johnson and Abbott, where she gained first-hand experience in commercial and marketing operations. Fascinated by Boston Scientific’s innovation in healthcare, particularly in minimally invasive technologies, Vlierberghe joined the company in 2005.

Initially part of business development in the EMEA region for the Rhythm Management business, Van Vlierberghe’s career at Boston Scientific has evolved significantly over the past 19 years. She has held many commercial roles across rhythm management, cardiology, and vascular businesses, contributing to marketing strategies, clinical support and team management. Her roles have progressively expanded to encompass broader regional responsibilities across Europe.

As part of her current role spanning the last six years, Van Vlierberghe leads healthcare solutions and partnerships across EMEA. She coordinates commercial interactions with key accounts and groups within Boston Scientific’s six businesses. Her team streamlines these interactions, understands customer needs deeply and fosters long-term partnerships that transcend supplier relationships to strategic collaborations.