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medilink: Connecting Specialists and Communities in Real Time

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The need

KBCRI Rijeka is the main clinical centre for the Primorsko-Goranska region. This region, due to its geographical location, has a lot of remote areas that include settlements in the surrounding mountain areas as well as the islands in the northern Adriatic Sea. Some of these areas as up to several hours drive from the KBCRI, which represents a significant problem for the local population when they need to visit a specialist. KBCRI already has agreements with some of the Health Centres in remote areas for the so-called “dislocated infirmary” where specialists from the KBCRI visit these remote health centres (usually two times a month) to provide services.

The main objective of the challenge is to establish a comprehensive and efficient telemedicine system that connects cardiologists from the hospital in Rijeka with family doctors in remote areas of the Primorsko-Goranska region. This solution aims to enhance access to specialized 2 cardiac care in remote locations, improve collaboration between healthcare professionals, and ultimately contribute to better health outcomes for patients with cardiovascular conditions.

The HealthChain Support

HealthChain supported Healthcare Organisations in identifying their innovation challenges and selecting companies to address them. They worked closely as an interregional team to co-create, test, and validate a solution aligned with real clinical workflows, patient needs, and organisational constraints. The project provided financial and business support to boost the solution’s market-readiness and commercialisation. 

The
Solution

A secure digital platform designed to facilitate collaboration between general practitioners (GPs) and medical specialists. It focuses on remote analysis, diagnostic support, scheduling, and documentation exchange. The platform enables specialists to conduct remote assessments directly from a GP’s practice, significantly reducing the need for patients to travel to specialist clinics. It also supports the uploading of audio files from digital stethoscopes to maintain diagnostic continuity   

Impact

MediLink transformed the referral process by bridging the gap between primary and specialist care through improved communication and workflow integration.

  • The companies established a long-term sustainability plan centered on a SaaS (Software as a Service) subscription model for clinics and hospitals, complemented by usage-based fees.
  • Proved effective for geographically dispersed populations, including those in islands and mountainous areas.
  • Enabled “on-site” specialist care within remote family medicine practices, removing the barrier of distance for underserved patients.
  • Pivoted from instant calls to structured video meetings to better align with professional clinical schedules.
  • The companies engaged with 13 healthcare organizations and met with potential buyers to validate their value proposition.
  • The project provided a foundation for expansion into new markets, including Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Serbia, with a long-term goal of a full EU rollout.
  • HealthChain allowed the companies to position MediLink as a “high-trust niche” provider in Central and Eastern Europe, differentiating themselves from global competitors through local regulatory compliance (GDPR) and human-led (non-AI) diagnostic workflows.

Outcomes

MediLink satisfactorily met all technical and engagement indicators with 25 patients involved, demonstrating high reliability and market interest.

  • Achieved a 92% reduction in the need for patients to travel to specialist clinics.
  • General Practitioners reported an extremely high satisfaction index of 4.99/5.00. They particularly valued the reduced patient backlog and the ability to receive expert feedback without requiring patient travel.
  • Specialists reported an overall satisfaction index of 4.56/5.00. Notably, all participating specialists agreed that the telemedicine model did not increase their workload.
  • Over 60% of patients provided positive feedback, highlighting the value of receiving specialist care in underserved or remote areas.

Sustainability

The sustainability strategy focuses on transitioning the validated pilot into a commercially viable product:

  • The project team plans to convert pilot participants into paying customers using a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) and usage-based model.
  • Initial market interest has already been secured, with the team surpassing its engagement targets by connecting with 13 healthcare organizations and holding 13 meetings with potential buyers.
  • Future expansion targets include private clinics and hospitals across Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Serbia.
  • A primary focus for long-term sustainability is initiating medical certification (MDR classification) to ensure the platform can be legally used for diagnostic support at scale.
  • A new project phase is underway to expand the platform’s functionality, including the onboarding of direct patient-facing interfaces to enhance the product’s value proposition before a broader commercial launch.

Testimonials

Through the HealthChain project, we gained direct, first-hand insight into real medical workflows related to patient care within cardiology pathways. This close exposure to everyday clinical processes proved to be of significant value for our development team, as it enabled a deeper understanding of the practical needs, constraints, and decision-making processes of both cardiologists and general practitioners. These insights have been essential in guiding the adaptation of our application to better support clinical practice, improve usability for healthcare professionals, and ensure that the solution aligns with real-world patient care processes.