In the rapidly evolving landscape of global healthcare, bridging the gap between innovative technologies and underserved communities is a paramount priority. At Medtronic LABS, we’re working every day to cultivate a bolder, more equitable, and outcomes-focused global health system for the future.
Since its inception in May 2022, LABS’ flagship technology, SPICE, has been at the forefront of this journey. SPICE delivers a uniquely comprehensive suite of solutions that address a wide range of challenges currently faced by communities, healthcare providers, and patients alike.
And today, we’re thrilled to announce a new milestone in the SPICE story – SPICE is now open-source!
Let’s dive into SPICE’s development and what this open-source announcement means for global health at large.
SPICE: Thoughtfully Developed, Uniquely Capable
We designed SPICE to transform healthcare delivery in communities often left on the margins of technology and medical advancement. The platform allows community health workers to circumvent challenges commonly associated with prevalent chronic diseases, limited healthcare access and infrastructure, early disease detection, and the lack of patient engagement in low-resource settings.
SPICE also addresses data fragmentation, resource allocation, and coordination between different levels of the care continuum, offering a multifaceted approach to community healthcare.
And as the world’s leading global health technology platform, SPICE’s capabilities extend far beyond mere record-keeping or routine medical management:
- SPICE’s Clinical Decision Support system is an intelligent assistant for healthcare providers, aiding them in making precise and timely medical recommendations and diagnoses.
- SPICE’s offline capabilities mean its utility isn’t confined to areas with robust internet infrastructure, making it a viable solution in remote underserved areas.
- SPICE’s inherent customizability acknowledges that one-size-fits-all solutions are inadequate for the rich tapestry of global healthcare needs. It invites providers to tailor the system to their specific requirements, mirroring their communities’ unique challenges, cultures, and contexts.
- Interoperability ensures SPICE isn’t an isolated platform. It functions as a well-integrated component of a community’s broader healthcare ecosystem. Its flexibility to integrate with prominent systems like DHIS2, KHIS, and EMRs signifies our continued commitment to collaborative, cohesive community healthcare.
- What sets SPICE apart most of all is its human-centric approach. It doesn’t just manage data; it facilitates targeted patient follow-ups, utilizing predictive clinical algorithms. It understands patients as individuals with distinct needs and histories, shaping their care with precision and empathy.
Overall, SPICE establishes stronger connections between facilities and the communities they serve. It recognizes that healthcare is a collective endeavor, and the relationship between healthcare facilities and the community is symbiotic.
Why Open-Source SPICE and Why Now?
SPICE was launched in May 2022 and quickly scaled to four countries in just three months. Since then, it has expanded to include features like SPICE Engage, SPICE Connect, and SPICE Insights. The milestone of becoming officially open-source marks a significant leap in SPICE’s journey.
We made SPICE open-source primarily to scale its impact. Medtronic LABS recognizes that open-sourcing SPICE will enable broader accessibility and collaboration and ensure that government and health system partners could deploy the platform as a long-term solution.
Here are a few other reasons why open-sourcing SPICE just made sense:
Impact on Effectiveness and Reach
We know that open-sourcing SPICE will spur further innovation, expand its features, and amplify its impact. This, in turn, will promote increased usage and engagement by our health system partners, scaling its effectiveness and reach.
Collaboration with Governments and Health Agencies
SPICE’s open-source nature will also enhance the deeply collaborative relationships we nurture with governments and health agencies. It assures its stakeholders of transparency, implementation ownership, and freedom from restrictive service fee models post-program completion.
Partnerships have always been essential to SPICE’s development. And with the transition to open-source, Medtronic LABS looks forward to further evolving its technical collaborations, providing software and capacity-building to manage strategic community health deployments.
SPICE: Looking Ahead
SPICE’s open-source model is poised to contribute to broader global health goals, advancing equity through access to quality care, empowering truly localized care solutions, data-driven decision-making, patient engagement, and global collaboration.
By providing an open-source platform that integrates various facets of healthcare, SPICE is laying the groundwork for innovative, equitable, and globally accessible healthcare solutions for the future.
Open-Source For Greater Impact
SPICE is the only digital public good for precision population health. It embodies our commitment to transforming healthcare delivery in underserved communities, offering a comprehensive solution that adapts to unique challenges.
Want to learn more about SPICE?
- Read more here
- Or contact us
Want to use SPICE now?
- Read our Documentation
- Check out our GitHub
