Frequently asked questions (FAQs) about technology and digital transformation in the healthcare sector
We answer the most common questions about healthcare digitalisation, electronic health records, artificial intelligence in health, HL7/FHIR interoperability, patient portals, hospital management and clinical data security for hospitals, clinics and healthcare organisations in Tarragona, Catalonia and across Spain.
What technology services does Macaque Consulting offer for the healthcare sector?
We design and implement custom IT solutions and healthcare software for hospitals, clinics and healthcare organisations. We work in six areas: digitalisation of clinical and administrative processes, artificial intelligence applied to health, efficient management of hospital resources, digital experience and patient portals, data governance and clinical Business Intelligence, and interoperability with the HL7 and FHIR standards. We also offer healthcare IT outsourcing and technology audits. We serve clients in Tarragona and across Spain.
What is healthcare interoperability and why does HL7/FHIR matter?
Healthcare interoperability is the ability of different health systems (electronic health records, laboratory, medical imaging, pharmacy or billing) to exchange information automatically and in an understandable way. HL7 and FHIR are the international standards that make this possible. Without interoperability, professionals work with fragmented and duplicated data; with it, they have the patient's complete information at the point of care, which improves clinical safety and efficiency.
How is artificial intelligence applied in hospitals and clinics?
Artificial intelligence in health supports professionals in clinical and management tasks: medical image analysis to detect patterns, prediction of readmissions or complications, patient prioritisation, automatic transcription and summarisation of clinical reports, and schedule optimisation. Always as support for medical decision-making, never as a substitute. We design each solution with clinical validation, traceability and compliance with the AI Act, which classifies a large share of healthcare AI systems as high-risk.
How is patients' health data protected?
Health data is a special category of personal data under the GDPR and requires the highest level of protection. We apply encryption, access control by professional profile, logging and auditing of every access to the health record, pseudonymisation for analytical uses and backups protected against ransomware. We design solutions in line with the GDPR, the National Security Framework (ENS) in the public sector and the standards of our ISO/IEC 27001:2023 certification.
What is a patient portal and what are its benefits?
A patient portal is a web platform or app where patients manage their relationship with the healthcare centre: they book and change appointments, view results and reports, receive reminders, communicate with professionals and access teleconsultations. It improves the patient experience and satisfaction, reduces calls and the centre's administrative workload, and lowers missed appointments. We integrate it with the health record and management systems so that the information is always up to date.
How does technology improve hospital resource management?
With advanced analytics and clinical Business Intelligence, hospitals manage bed occupancy, operating theatre scheduling, staff shifts, emergency departments and medical supplies inventory in real time. Predictive models anticipate demand peaks and make it possible to plan resources in advance. The result is shorter waiting times for patients, better use of facilities and equipment, and more staff time devoted to clinical care.