Piret Hirv is the HealthTech and Connected Health Cluster Manager at the Tehnopol science and business campus. She has also worked at the Ministry of Social Affairs as an advisor for e-services and innovation, and during Estonia's presidency of the Council of the European Union, she focused on the development and implementation of the eHealth policy programme and as a liaison officer for international organisations and networks. Piret has graduated from Tallinn Health Care College with a degree in nursing and later from Tallinn University of Technology with a degree in health technology. In addition, she received a degree in business management and communication and public relations.
Where do health technology graduates go on to work?
Among the graduates of the master's programme there are managers of start-ups, product managers of technology companies and innovation managers of hospitals. Some of them are working in public institutions while others are working for various healthcare providers.
What innovative e-health solution is your dream?
I am looking forward to a solution that, based on my HEALTH and GENE data, would provide advice on how to prevent chronic diseases. I would definitely like this solution to be integrated into my health data in the national health information system. This would allow the prevention of health-related risks based on data, and I could live as a healthy person for at least 100 years.
How has the digital revolution affected healthcare?
I regard digital development as an evolution rather than a revolution. Development in health does not happen overnight.
What is the next big breakthrough that you are looking forward to?
I really look forward to the implementation of the consent service in the field of health in the near future. I hope that the consent service will finally create an opportunity to use both health and genetic data for solutions that are attractive to people.
What is the coolest thing that has happened at work?
An opportunity that has suddenly fallen into our hands across the whole of society (albeit through an unfortunate situation) to hold meetings and seminars across a video bridge. On the one hand, it saves a huge amount of time. On the other hand, the online seminars that are interesting and professional in structure attract a much wider audience compared to events organised in a physical environment at a cosy coffee table.
Digital health solutions are more important than ever. In addition to an ageing population, we need to adapt to the ongoing epidemic. As a result, the role that digital technologies play in healthcare is increasing, helping to deliver remote treatment, prevent diseases, analyse big data, and predict future health risks. Smart digital health technologies help to make healthcare more effective and accessible. TalTech’s Digital Health study programme is aimed at training healthcare change leaders: people who know how to develop and successfully deploy new digital healthcare technologies. The international programme provides students with interdisciplinary knowledge and skills in innovation and the implementation of digital solutions. This is where new technology start-ups and cutting-edge research are born. Our graduates have gone on to found businesses, pursue a career in research, or work at start-ups, healthcare institutions, or the public sector. Our graduates are united by the mission to make health care future-proof through smart digitisation! The programme is taught in English. View the programme here: taltech.ee/en/hct