Zebra

Zebra Academy is a Belgian company that aims to streamline urgent patient care by integrating pre-hospital and in-hospital procedures. The company was founded by Guy Nagels, Helio Fernandez Tellez, and Andre Convents. In 2016, Zebra Academy secured an exclusive worldwide license from Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) and UZ Brussel for the patented PreSSUB (Prehospital TeleStroke Study at the Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel) technology.

The core of their service is the Zebra Web Platform, which facilitates virtual consultations by bringing medical experts into the ambulance. This allows for the immediate gathering and sharing of critical patient data, such as vital signs and symptoms, with hospital staff like radiologists, neurologists, and nurses before the patient arrives. The primary focus is on improving outcomes for conditions like stroke, where speed and competence are crucial for effective treatment. By enabling efficient patient triage and effective pre-hospital procedures, the platform helps ensure patients receive the right treatment within the optimal timeframe.

The business model is centered on this technology platform that connects ambulance staff with hospital specialists. It aims to reduce the time to treatment, which is a critical factor in a patient's prognosis, particularly in stroke cases. The platform was developed by the “Center for Neurosciences” of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel and UZ Brussel, in collaboration with the VUB-department of Electronics and Informatics (ETRO), to redesign acute stroke care.

Keywords: telemedicine, pre-hospital care, in-hospital care, urgent patient care, stroke care, virtual consultation, medical data sharing, patient triage, acute stroke care, medical technology, emergency medical services, telehealth, healthcare integration, VUB, UZ Brussel, PreSSUB technology, ambulance telemedicine, remote medical expert, critical data sharing, patient outcome improvement