More Digitalized Health Services: A Blueprint for a Centralized Software Application in Smart City Context

This article introduces a new computerized solution designed to address the connectivity needs of a medical assistance system within the smart city context. To simulate the main developed functionalities, existing workflows from the medical system of Romania were selected as a case study. The developed information application is based on Java and Android ecosystems. It includes a desktop interface for system management addressed to medical specialists, and a mobile one accessible to patients. The platform’s capabilities include scheduling and search functionalities for hospitalization and consultations, categorized by medical specialty and institutions, all managed centrally at the city level. The solution incorporates tools for both in-person and remote interactions between healthcare providers and patients. This encompasses discussion functionalities for remote consultations and the ability to monitor medical parameters collected from smart devices or voluntarily transmitted by the patients. Patient data is securely stored in a digital record containing anamnesis and medical observation details, including imaging features. These are also anonymized and labelled with the diagnosis provided by medical specialists, becoming a resource for diagnosing patients with the same pathologies, complying with medical ethics. These are analysed using Machine Learning and Deep Learning algorithms optimized to generate accurate results. The models are pre-trained with medical nature datasets from online repositories. Furthermore, the system’s adaptability and resilience can become an asset in addressing health crises, such as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. This reinforces the city’s ability to respond effectively to unforeseen challenges.