Thieme Group

Thieme is a market-leading provider of information and services designed to improve healthcare. With a focus on digital solutions in medicine, Thieme supports information, communication, and documentation processes in science, education, training, and patient care. Their services are tailored to meet the needs of various professional groups in the healthcare sector, including medical students, doctors, nursing staff, clinics, and healthcare companies such as hospitals, health insurers, and pharmaceutical companies.

Together with a broad network of experts and partners, Thieme ensures it remains at the forefront of medical science, didactics, and technology. The family-owned company employs more than 1,000 people worldwide, all committed to advancing medicine and health with innovative developments.

Unlike generic LLMs like ChatGPT, which lack specialized medical knowledge and draw from unverified sources, the eRef AI Assistant is trained on Thieme’s vast repository of high-quality medical texts. This specialized training ensures that the responses provided are accurate, trustworthy, and specifically tailored to meet the healthcare industry's rigorous standards. 

The eRef AI Assistant aims to revolutionize how medical information is accessed and utilized. By facilitating a shift from conventional keyword-based searches to intuitive interactions, the MedLLM offers a more seamless user experience. The product was integrated into Thieme’s eRef, a medical knowledge platform primarily used by healthcare professionals (HCPs) in the DACH region, where it is available to all existing users. 

The joint product of XUND and Thieme represents a significant step forward in providing access to trustworthy medical information, enabling HCPs to turn simple searches into true conversations. Currently available for the German-speaking market and existing users of Thieme’s eRef, the product is an example of how AI can change the way medical knowledge is delivered in the future.

The ongoing collaboration aims to continuously refine the model, leveraging conversational insights and incorporating the latest methodologies to improve its performance. It also sets the stage for further advances in digital health, demonstrating the power of combining the speed of tech scale-ups like XUND with the deep domain knowledge and trust in the healthcare industry of companies like Thieme.

The specific objectives of the eRef AI Assistant include:

• Bringing together Thieme's in-depth knowledge and XUND's technological expertise to deliver cutting-edge digital solutions trusted by healthcare professionals (HCPs) and patients.
• Providing HCPs with instant and on-demand access to relevant medical content that supports evidence-based, contextualized decision-making and patient care.
• Leveraging XUND's API-first approach to seamlessly integrate with existing healthcare systems and workflows, supporting both HCPs and patients' physicians throughout the healthcare journey.

Thieme Group recognized XUND's innovative approach and the potential of its AI-powered technology to revolutionize access to medical information for HCPs. The collaboration is built on several key synergies between the two companies: 

• Both Thieme and XUND are committed to advancing healthcare through digital innovation. This shared vision drives their collaborative efforts to enhance the accessibility and utility of medical information for doctors, nurses, and other HCPs.
• The scalability of XUND’s technology allows for continuous improvement and adaptation based on user feedback and the latest technological advancements. This flexibility ensures that the solutions developed will remain cutting-edge and highly effective in meeting the evolving needs of healthcare professionals. 
• As a medical device manufacturer, XUND is committed to the highest standards of safety and quality. We comply with stringent regulatory requirements, including the Medical Device Regulation (MDR) 2017/745. XUND also ensures data security and confidentiality in accordance with Thieme's standards for handling sensitive medical information.

Together, the partners aim to set new standards in the provision of digital medical information and support tools.