Healthcare professionals in Belgium face mounting administrative tasks, with general practitioners (GPs) required to document every patient consultation in detailed SOEP (Subjective, Objective, Evaluation, Plan) reports. This process demands compliance with medical coding standards like ICPC-2 and SNOMED CT, consuming a significant portion of their workday. Amid growing workloads, over half of Belgian GP practices have enforced patient stops, illustrating the pressing need for solutions to alleviate administrative burdens and refocus doctors on patient care.
What makes Squire an innovative solution?
Squire, a Ghent-based startup, offers AI-powered software designed to draft consultation reports based on GP-patient conversations. This software instantly applies medical coding, leaving the GP with only minor adjustments before finalizing the report. The solution, currently available for free trial in Flanders, aims to streamline administrative workflows to reduce instances of patient stops. According to Squire’s CEO Stan Callewaert, the platform represents a “second wave of digitalization” for healthcare providers, moving beyond merely replacing paper systems with software.
How did Squire evolve from idea to implementation?
The company was co-founded by Stan Callewaert and Ignace Maes, both with backgrounds in AI and computer science from Ghent University. Through extensive interviews with healthcare stakeholders, the team identified the administrative workload as a critical issue. Before settling on Squire, they explored 21 startup ideas and eventually developed a proof of concept with financial backing from Entourage, an investment fund led by Pieterjan Bouten. Their collaboration formalized strategies for scaling internationally and completing a minimum viable product (MVP).
Past discussions of similar issues in healthcare indicate ongoing concerns about GP workload management. While digitization improved medical record-keeping, the gap in reducing documentation time has persisted. Squire’s approach appears focused on addressing this specific inefficiency, reflecting a more targeted response compared to earlier efforts in healthcare technology.
The solution’s scalability presents challenges, including adapting to different healthcare regulations and linguistic nuances in international markets. For example, medical coding standards differ between countries, as Belgian GPs use ICPC-2 while Dutch GPs rely on ICPC-1. Despite these hurdles, the company sees the Netherlands as a likely next step in its expansion, given the minimal language barrier.
“We need to localize our software to meet each country’s specific healthcare needs while improving language support to better assist general practitioners,” stated Callewaert.
Ethical concerns around AI in healthcare are also addressed by Squire with stringent measures for GDPR compliance and cybersecurity. This focus on data protection aims to build trust among doctors and patients, ensuring sensitive medical information remains secure.
The company is also seeking to grow its team, emphasizing long-term commitment and technical expertise. Prospective hires will work on advanced Natural Language Processing (NLP) technologies with opportunities to benefit from equity through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP).
Squire’s AI-based solution underscores the potential for technology to reshape healthcare workflows, allowing GPs to dedicate more time to patient care rather than administrative tasks. By addressing not only local challenges but also preparing for international demands, the company aligns with broader trends of integrating AI into healthcare in a responsible and practical manner. For healthcare practitioners, balancing patient-centered care with operational efficiency remains critical, and tools like Squire could serve as an essential component in achieving that equilibrium.
