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The THCS Podcast

THCS

A podcast about the future of health and care in Europe, told through the voices of the people making it happen.

The THCS Podcast brings together experts, practitioners, policymakers, researchers and innovators working to transform health and care systems across Europe. Through concrete experiences, project stories and strategic reflections, each episode explores how collaboration, innovation and system transformation can help build more resilient, sustainable and people-centred health and care systems.

Learn more about THCS at www.thcspartnership.eu

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  • 12 episodes
  • fortnightly
  • Avg 27 min
  • English

Episodes 12

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  • S2 · E5
    Tuesday · 30 min

    #11: Spotlight on projects - MDR in AIS

    When every minute counts, how can innovation help save the brain — and lives? In this episode of the THCS Podcast, we explore the MDR in AIS project, one of the initiatives funded under the European Partnership on Transforming Health and Care Systems (THCS). The project focuses on improving the treatment pathway for patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) by reducing door-to-reperfusion times within the Drip and Ship model of stroke care. Together with our guests, we discuss how optimising clinical pathways, strengthening coordination between stroke centres, and improving decision-making can significantly reduce delays in delivering mechanical thrombectomy, where every minute saved can improve patient outcomes and reduce long-term disability. The conversation also explores the organisational, technological, and collaborative changes needed to deliver faster, more integrated stroke care across healthcare systems. Join us to discover how the MDR in AIS project is contributing to the transformation of emergency stroke care by improving coordination, accelerating access to life-saving treatment, and supporting more efficient and equitable care pathways across Europe. Guests in this Episode: Alexander Nikolov, Research Manager & Project Coordinator at SYNYO GmbH Martin Vitiello, Project Manager and researcher for the MDR in AIS project, Neuroradiology Unit of Siena University Hospital Topics covered: The vision and objectives of the MDR in AIS project Understanding the Drip and Ship model for acute ischemic stroke Strategies to minimise door-to-reperfusion times Improving coordination between primary stroke centres and comprehensive stroke centres The role of clinical pathways, digital tools, and multidisciplinary collaboration in emergency stroke care Challenges and opportunities for implementing optimised stroke pathways across different health systems Lessons for scaling high-quality, time-critical stroke care across Europe MDR in AIS’s contribution to the transformation of health and social care systems. More info on MDR in AIS Project: https://www.mdrinais.eu/about/ Follow and register on our Knowledge Hub: https://knowledgehub.thcspartnership.eu/

  • S2 · E4
    August 11 · 31 min

    #10: Spotlight on projects - DADAP

    How can digital technologies transform the way psychiatric assessments are conducted, making them more efficient, accurate, and person-centred? In this episode of the THCS Podcast, we explore the DADAP project, Digitising and Automating the Diagnostic Psychiatric Assessment Process, one of the initiatives funded under the European Partnership on Transforming Health and Care Systems (THCS). The project is developing digital solutions to modernise the psychiatric diagnostic assessment process by combining automation, digital technologies, and clinical expertise to support more timely, consistent, and person-centred mental healthcare. Together with our guests, we discuss how DADAP aims to improve the efficiency and quality of psychiatric assessments, reduce the administrative burden on healthcare professionals, and enhance clinical decision-making while ensuring that patients remain at the centre of the diagnostic process. The conversation also explores the opportunities and challenges of implementing digital innovations in mental healthcare, including issues of usability, ethics, trust, and integration into routine clinical practice. Join us to discover how DADAP is contributing to the transformation of mental health services by harnessing digital innovation to improve access, support healthcare professionals, and deliver more personalised and effective psychiatric care. Guests in this Episode: Dr. Diana-Sabina Vieru, Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist and PhD student in Pharmacology at CEMEX, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Grigore T. Popa” in Iași, Romania Dr. Tomas Olsson, Senior Researcher at RISE Research Institutes of Sweden and Lead of the Industrially Scalable AI research area at his unit Topics covered: The vision and objectives of the DADAP project Digitising and automating psychiatric diagnostic assessments Supporting clinicians through digital decision-support tools Improving efficiency, consistency, and quality in mental healthcare Ethical, organisational, and implementation challenges of digital mental health innovations Lessons for adopting and scaling digital solutions across European health systems DADAP’s contribution to the transformation of health and social care systems. More info on DADAP Project: https://dadap-project.eu/ Follow and register on our Knowledge Hub: https://knowledgehub.thcspartnership.eu/

  • S2 · E3
    July 28 · 23 min

    #09: Spotlight on projects - SPINE-SYNC

    How can better education, communication, and collaboration improve the care and quality of life of people living with scoliosis? In this episode of the THCS Podcast, we spotlight the SPINE-SYNC project, one of the initiatives funded under the European Partnership on Transforming Health and Care Systems (THCS). The project is developing a multi-stakeholder platform designed to strengthen scoliosis education, improve communication, foster professional collaboration, and enhance health literacy for patients, families, and healthcare professionals. Together with our guests, we discuss how SPINE-SYNC is bringing together clinicians, researchers, patients, educators, and policy stakeholders to create a more connected and person-centred approach to scoliosis care. The conversation explores the importance of empowering patients with accessible information, supporting multidisciplinary collaboration, and improving communication across the care pathway to achieve better health outcomes. Join us to discover how SPINE-SYNC is helping transform scoliosis care through innovation, collaboration, and knowledge sharing, while contributing to the broader goal of building more integrated, patient-centred, and sustainable health and care systems across Europe. Guests in this Episode: César Galo García Fontecha, Head of Orthopedics at Sant Joan de Déu Children’s Hospital Sara Gutierrez Fernandez, Scientific Project Manager, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu Chiara Serio, Project Manager, Fundación Sant Joan de Déu Topics covered: The vision and objectives of the SPINE-SYNC project Development of a multi-stakeholder platform for scoliosis care Improvement of education and health literacy for patients and families Enhancement of communication and multidisciplinary professional collaboration Challenges and opportunities in implementing patient-centred digital solutions Lessons for scaling collaborative models of care across Europe SPINE-SYNC’s contribution to the transformation of health and social care systems. More info on SPINE-SYNC Project: https://www.irsjd.org/es/participa/participa-en-la-investigacion/proyecto-spine-sync/ Follow and register on our Knowledge Hub: https://knowledgehub.thcspartnership.eu/

  • S2 · E2
    July 14 · 29 min

    #08: Spotlight on projects - ReSTAGE

    How can advanced imaging, predictive models, and digital technologies transform the prevention and management of disease while putting patients at the centre of care? In this episode of the THCS Podcast, we explore the ReSTAGE project, one of the initiatives funded under the European Partnership on Transforming Health and Care Systems (THCS). The project is developing a new generation of solutions combining advanced medical imaging, predictive modelling, and patient-centred digital tools to support earlier intervention, more personalised care, and better health outcomes. Together with our guests, we discuss how ReSTAGE is bringing together multidisciplinary expertise to harness data and digital innovation, enabling healthcare professionals to make more informed decisions while empowering patients to play a more active role in managing their health. The conversation also explores the challenges of implementing digital innovations in routine care and the importance of ensuring that new technologies are accessible, trusted, and adaptable across different health systems. Join us to discover how ReSTAGE is contributing to the transformation of health and social care by combining cutting-edge research with practical implementation, helping to build more proactive, personalised, and sustainable healthcare across Europe. Guests in this Episode: Dr. Andrada Ianuş, Lecturer in Healthcare Engineering at the School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences, King’s College London Dr. Anca-Raluca Popița, Senior radiologist at the “Prof. Dr. Ion Chiricuță” Oncology Institute in Cluj-Napoca, Romania Topics covered: The vision and objectives of the ReSTAGE project The role of advanced imaging and predictive models in personalised care Patient-centred digital tools and their impact on health outcomes Challenges and opportunities in implementing digital health innovations Lessons for scaling and transferring innovative solutions across Europe ReSTAGE’s contribution to the THCS mission of building resilient, person-centred health and care systems. More info on ReSTAGE Project: https://re-stage.eu/ Follow and register on our Knowledge Hub: https://knowledgehub.thcspartnership.eu/

  • S2 · E1
    June 30 · 22 min

    #07: Spotlight on projects - ARC, Ageing Right Care(fully)

    How can health and care systems become more adaptive, resilient, and responsive to the changing needs of people and communities? In this episode of the THCS Podcast, we explore the Ageing Right Care(fully) ARC project, one of the initiatives funded under the European Partnership on Transforming Health and Care Systems (THCS). Together with our guest, we discuss the challenges the project seeks to address, the innovative approaches being developed, and the potential for creating sustainable change and impact across health and social care systems. The conversation highlights how the ARC project is generating evidence, fostering collaboration, and supporting the transfer and implementation of solutions that can strengthen system resilience and improve outcomes for citizens. We also reflect on key lessons learned, the importance of cross-country cooperation, and what it takes to translate innovation into sustainable impact. Join us to discover how the ARC project is contributing to the broader ambition of transforming health and care systems across Europe—moving from knowledge to action, and from innovation to impact. Guest in this Episode: Dr. Jodi Sturge, Assistant Professor in Interaction Design at the University of Twente in the Netherlands and principal investigator of the ARC project Topics covered: The vision and objectives of the ARC project Challenges and opportunities in health and care system transformation Collaboration across countries and disciplines Lessons learned and early insights Transferability, implementation, and sustainability of innovative solutions Contribution to the THCS mission of building resilient, person-centred health and care systems. More info on ARC Project: https://www.arc-project.eu/ Follow and register on our Knowledge Hub: https://knowledgehub.thcspartnership.eu/

  • S1 · E6
    June 9 · 30 min

    #06: The Digital Thread

    Digital health promises smarter care, but can ecosystems integrate it into real practice? Discover how Europe balances technology with human trust, workflow integration, and everyday implementation. Digital tools are reshaping care delivery, from personalized services to smarter prevention and monitoring. The real challenge: integrating them into workflows,into minds, and into budgets. In this episode of the THCS Podcast, Donna Henderson (NHS Scotland) brings a European perspective on digital health adoption. Etty Ragnhild Nilsen (Norway’s CoTecH) showcases a national partnership shaping digital services. And Elisabeth Haslinger-Baumann presents LinkedCare in Austria, an ecosystem experimenting with interoperability and trust in digital care. Together, their insights reveal how digitization can move from buzzwords to reality when embedded into real ecosystems. Guests in this Episode: ■ Donna Henderson, Head of International Engagement, NHS Scotland (United Kingdom) ■ Etty Ragnhild Nilsen, CoTecH Project, University of South-Eastern Norway (Norway) ■ Elisabeth Haslinger-Baumann, University of Applied Sciences Campus Vienna (Austria) Topics in this Episode: ■ How digital health tools are integrated into real workflows, budgets, and daily practice across European ecosystems ■ Building trust among citizens, caregivers, and professionals when introducing digital innovation in health and care ■ From buzzwords to reality: making interoperability, capacity-building, and digital services work in Scotland, Norway, and Austria 👉 Follow the THCS Podcast, it really helps the show: ■ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/11EcezW9VSuNdgoCcbIi4U ■ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ecosystems-in-health-and-care-the-thcs-podcast/id1887092760 ■ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@THCS-HorizonEU

  • S1 · E5
    May 25 · 29 min

    #05: The Desire for Passionates

    What keeps health and care ecosystems alive? It’s not just money. Meet the passionates behind Europe's most human-centered care ecosystems and the beacon elements that make them thrive long-term. Commitment and passion often matter more than funding. This episode of the THCS Podcast builds directly on the WP9 Activity Report’s insights into the identification of 30 ecosystems across Europe. Many of them were not new inventions but existing networks, funded projects, or reference sites. Yet, what makes them transformative is their ability to align strategies, decisions, and actions over time. With Sanna Tuurnas, we introduce the analytical lens of “beacon elements” and why they matter. We then explore 2 successful ecosystems: the Pediatric Palliative Care Unit in Aragon, where compassion and multi-actor commitment redefines support forchildren and families and Mooi Maasvallei in the Netherlands, a dynamic alliance that started small, thrives on open discussions, and fosters a citizen-first design. Our guests are telling a human story of ecosystems held together not by contracts or money, but by trust, persistence,and shared purpose by the passionates who keep them alive. Guests in this Episode: ■ Sanna Tuurnas, Expert on Beacon Ecosystem Elements, Tampere University (Finland) ■ Fatima Parra, Physician with the Pediatric Palliative Care Unit, Aragon (Spain) ■ Pauline Terwijn, CEO of Pantein and Chair of the MooiMaasvallei Ecosystem (Netherlands) Topics in this Episode: ■ Which beacon elements make health and care ecosystems work in the long run ■ Why passion, trust, and long-term commitment matter more than funding in sustaining ecosystems ■ How the Pediatric Palliative Care Unit in Aragon built an ecosystem around multi-actor commitment for childrenand families ■ How Mooi Maasvallei in the Netherlands grew from a small, passion-driven alliance into a citizen-firstcare ecosystem ─•──── 👉 Follow the THCS Podcast, it really helps the show: ▪️ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/11EcezW9VSuNdgoCcbIi4U ▪️ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ecosystems-in-health-and-care-the-thcs-podcast/id1887092760 ▪️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@THCS-HorizonEU

  • S1 · E1
    May 12 · 26 min

    #04: The Case for Change - Why Ecosystems Matter

    Europe's health systems need ecosystems, not silos. Meet the THCS Initiative reshaping health and care in Europe. Experts introduce the initiative, present a real story from Finland, and discuss what makes ecosystems the real game changer. Transformation begins when people stop pulling apart and start moving together. This episode of “Ecosystems in Health and Care” – The THCS Podcast, takes us straight to the core: The Case for Change. Europe can’t fix health and care piece by piece. It takes ecosystems working together, not in silos. And our guests know exactly how that shift begins. ─•──── Guests in this Episode: Gerda Geyer, THCSWork Package 9 Lead, Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG) (Austria) Wally Keijzer, Social entrepreneur and Meta-expert onecosystems (Netherlands) Anniina Tirronen, Tesoma WellnessAlliance in Tampere (Finland) ─•──── Topics in this Episode: What ecosystems really meanin European health & care and why they're more than a buzzword How trust, sustainability,and structure keep health ecosystems on track How Finland's Tesoma Wellbeing Centre built a real businessmodel around person-centered, community-based care ─•──── 👉 Follow the THCS Podcast on: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/11EcezW9VSuNdgoCcbIi4U Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ecosystems-in-health-and-care-the-thcs-podcast/id1887092760 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@THCS-HorizonEU

  • S1 · E3
    April 28 · 23 min

    #03: Aging Well - Digital and Community Support

    How can ecosystems support ageing well in Europe? From digital dementia care to community-led initiatives, this episode explores how connection, intergenerational collaboration, and support structures beyond traditionalhealthcare reshape ageing. The conversation highlights ecosystems that are reshaping the way Europe thinks about ageing. Instead of framing old age as decline, these initiatives show how communities, digital tools, and social innovation create autonomy, dignity, andconnection. We explore two cases: the Campania Reference Site, integrating research and care delivery and TeleCareHub in Austria, using digital platforms to support dementia care. Together, they illustrate that ageing well is less about avoiding decline and more about building meaningful connections supported by ecosystems. Guests: ▪️Maddalena Illario,University Hospital Federico II, Naples (Italy) ▪️Katrin Paldan, Vorarlberg University of Applied Sciences, TeleCareHub (Austria) Topics in this Episode: ▪️What “aging well” actually means in practice,beyond healthcare ▪️How communities, families, and informalcarers support ageing in everyday life ▪️How digital tools and ecosystem modelsconnect research, care, and real-world impact “Old age is not the problem, disconnectionis”, Katrin Paldan 👉 Follow the THCS Podcast on: ▪️ Spotify▪️ Apple Podcasts▪️ YouTube

  • S1 · E2
    April 14 · 46 min

    #02: Ecosystems Need Policies — Stronger Together

    How can policy and incentives turn health and care ecosystems into lasting systems? In this episode of the THCS Podcast experts discuss governance, national mirror groups, and how Europe can scale transformation beyond projects. Every ecosystem has a heartbeat, but without the right policy and strategy, that heartbeat can fade. Across Europe, ecosystems are experimenting with new ways of deliveringcare. Yet as the WP9 survey showed, lack of incentives and weak policy support remain the biggest barriers to change. This episode of the THCS Podcast explores how policies can be designed not to suffocate innovation, but to fuel it. Juha Teperi from Finland unpacks the policy levers that matter most. Lisa Leonardini shares how Italy’s National MirrorGroup brings stakeholders into one room to align national and European priorities. And Joanna Lane from the Netherlands reflects on how advisory structures can translate local lessons into European strategy. Together, we search for the “sweet spot” where policy, strategy, practice, and passion meet and show why ecosystems aren’t a luxury, but Europe’s survival strategy in a complex future. Guests: ▪️Juha Teperi, Tampere University (Finland) ▪️Lisa Leonardini, Chair, Italian National Mirror Group ProMIS (Italy) ▪️Joanna Lane, Advisory Board Representative, THCS Partnership (The Netherlands) Topics in this Episode ▪️Which incentives are missing and what would unlock progress ▪️Which policies make ecosystems scale or kill them early ▪️How Mirror Groups, advisory boards, and Living Labs turn projects into systems Ecosystems are not a nice-to-have, they’re how we survive complexity. ─•──── 👉 Follow the THCS Podcast on:▪️ Spotify https://lnkd.in/ec2WcQ6H▪️ Apple Podcasts https://lnkd.in/ejd5SnGR▪️ YouTube https://lnkd.in/dykMvHar

  • S1 · E1
    March 31 · 40 min

    #01: From Project Funding to Sustainable Ecosystem-Solutions - After the Pilot: Shared Value. Shared Risk. Shared Accountability.

    How do health and care ecosystems survive after project funding ends? Experts from Austria, Belgium, and Italy discuss shared value, shared risk, and how pilots evolve into sustainable health and care ecosystems in Europe. In this episode of the THCS Podcast – Ecosystems inHealth and Care, we explore how ecosystems move beyond fragmented innovation toward sustainable collaboration built on shared value, shared risk, and shared accountability. Together with Gerda Geyer (FFG, WP9 Lead, Austria),Johan Moyersoen (expert on value-based business models, Belgium), and Riccardo Farina (TrentinoSalute4.0 / TreC+ model, Trentino, Italy), we discuss what enables ecosystems to evolve from emerging initiatives to lasting structures that transform health and care systems. From governance and business models to real-world ecosystem practice, this episode looks at what it truly takes to sustain collaboration, balance value and risk among partners, and turn promising pilots into long-term systemic impact. Topics in this episode:→Moving from projects to sustainable ecosystems →Value-based business models and shared accountability → From emerging to beacon ecosystems →The TrentinoSalute4.0 / TreC+ model as a real-world example Guests:→Gerda Geyer – FFG, THCS WP9 Lead (Austria) → Johan Moyersoen – Founding partner of the Impact Licensing Initiative and senior expert in integrated business models (Belgium) → Riccardo Farina – TrentinoSalute4.0, main outcome TreC+Model (Italy)

  • March 20 · 22 sec

    Trailer: Ecosystems in Health and Care - The THCS Podcast

    The THCS Podcast talks about the future of health and care in Europe, told through the voices of the people making it happen. The episodes bring together real-world ecosystems and visionary experts who are breaking silos, building trust, and transforming systems. One aligned action at a time. → Follow us on Spotify and never miss an episode.

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