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At the beginning of June, I had the opportunity to support the go-live of MEDLINQ-AIMS at the newly opened Centre de Chirurgie Ambulatoire de Genève (CCA). The timing could not have been better: while the new outpatient surgery center was welcoming its first patients, MEDLINQ-AIMS went live as the anesthesia information management system supporting clinical documentation and workflow.

The CCA represents a new approach to ambulatory surgical care. As the largest outpatient surgery center in Switzerland, it has been designed to provide highly efficient, patient-centered perioperative care. The facility is expected to treat approximately 10,000 patients annually and is the result of a unique public-private partnership between Geneva University Hospitals (HUG) and the Hirslanden Group.

The clinical concept is built around streamlined patient pathways. The facility features 22 individual patient rooms, known as “Cocoons,” which are used for both preoperative preparation and postoperative recovery. In addition, the center includes a dedicated regional anesthesia area with three beds and ten operating rooms. Following surgery, patients return directly to their assigned Cocoon, where postoperative monitoring and care are provided in a decentralized PACU model.

One of the most impressive aspects of the project was the technology infrastructure. The CCA is equipped with the latest generation of Mindray monitoring systems.

Upon arrival, each patient receives a Mindray MRV Pod, which accompanies them throughout their entire perioperative journey – from induction and surgery to recovery. Vital signs are transmitted wirelessly and integrated directly into MEDLINQ-AIMS via HL7 interfaces. Through NFC technology, the MRV Pods can be dynamically assigned to different bedside monitors as patients move through the facility, ensuring continuous monitoring, seamless data availability, and automated documentation.

The IT landscape provided another interesting element to the project. The hospital information system is based on Salesforce, adding yet another modern HIS platform to the growing list of systems successfully integrated with MEDLINQ-AIMS. The exchange of patient and clinical information is performed through standardized HL7 messaging, enabling smooth interoperability between systems and supporting efficient clinical workflows.

For MEDLINQ, this go-live marked an important milestone. The CCA became the first customer to use MEDLINQ-AIMS entirely in French. After months of translation, validation, and optimization, it was fascinating to see the familiar system operating in a completely different language environment. Even more rewarding was observing the positive reactions from clinicians and nurses who quickly appreciated the system’s combination of functionality, flexibility, and ease of use.

Another notable achievement was the project timeline. From the initial kick-off meeting involving both the IT department and clinical stakeholders to the production go-live, only four months elapsed. This included the complete AI-assisted translation of the application, configuration activities, user validation, interface implementation, and workflow adaptations tailored to the new facility.

A key contributor to the project’s success was Dr. Alexis Schneider, the clinical lead and local system administrator. Having previously been involved in the implementation of a patient data management system (PDMS) at HUG, he brought valuable experience and realistic expectations regarding the complexity of digital transformation projects. His feedback highlighted two aspects in particular: the flexibility of MEDLINQ-AIMS and the direct collaboration with the MEDLINQ team. Initially skeptical due to his experience with large-scale university hospital projects that often require years to complete, he was positively surprised by the speed and agility of the implementation process.

On a personal note, this project will remain memorable for another reason: four countries, two days, one AIMS. The journey took me from Hamburg via Amsterdam to Geneva and, after two intensive go-live days, back home via Paris. Beyond the travel itself, the project demonstrated how modern clinical workflows, advanced medical technology, and digital documentation can come together to create an efficient and user-friendly environment for both healthcare professionals and patients.

The successful launch at the CCA represents another important step in MEDLINQ’s international growth and demonstrates how rapidly innovative healthcare technology can be implemented when clinical teams, IT specialists, and technology partners work closely together toward a common goal.

Yours, Dustin Baumgartl

What happens when an AIMS goes live in two completely different areas at the same time?

On 1 April, we supported the successful go-live of our AIMS at Hirslanden Klinik St. Anna am Bahnhof in Lucerne (part of the Hirslanden Group), alongside the introduction of three additional programmes.

What made it special
Our AIMS was introduced simultaneously in two very different areas: the day clinic for infusion patients and an outpatient operating theatre with two rooms. This setup showed how flexibly the system can adapt to different clinical requirements.

A real benefit in everyday work
Automatic transfer of vital signs and ventilation parameters noticeably reduces documentation work and creates more time for what matters. The interface to MonitOP software from GG Software GmbH also impressed: reliable connection to operating theatre scheduling and the return of relevant timestamps mean leaner processes and central documentation.

And yes – the surroundings played a part too
Located directly at Lucerne station, with views of the lake and mountains. A go-live with a view.

Thank you to everyone involved for the great collaboration!