Siilo simplifies communication at Dermatologikum

Dermatologikum is an association of private clinics in Hamburg (2x), Bremen, Bonn, Kiel and Zurich for dermatology, allergology, aesthetic surgery and vein and vascular surgery. Connected to this is one of the largest dermatohistopathological laboratories, which supplies more than 100 dermatological practices throughout Germany. A total of more than 240 doctors, medical specialists and administrative staff are employed at all locations. Up to now, communication within the dermatological centre has mainly taken place by e‑mail.However, the management had a communication solution in mind that all employees could use equally, regardless of location, in compliance with data protection regulations and quickly. Prof. Dr. med. Markus Zutt, the medical director and managing director at the Bremen site, suggested using the medical messenger Siilo. Some doctors were already familiar with the application and the management was immediately convinced.

With a rally to the goal

A suggestion from Prof. Dr. med. Markus Zutt, the medical director and managing director at the Bremen site, who introduced her to the medical messenger Siilo, came at the right time. Some doctors were already familiar with the application and the management was immediately convinced. To introduce the messenger, a ​“task force” was formed that developed a gamification approach. The employees were to be introduced to the Messenger in a playful rally. Large posters and postcards in the staff rooms drew the employees’ attention to the Siilo rally. The first three rally questions were printed on the postcards, the following seven could only be found at Siilo. As an incentive, all participants received an exclusive prize for the correct solution word.

The concept worked. The roll-out was launched at three locations – Hamburg, Bremen and Zurich – and within just two weeks, the majority of employees had downloaded the messenger and completed the registration process. ​“We had hoped that the gamification idea would facilitate the introduction of Siilo at Dermatologikum. And indeed, it was really a great success. We didn’t have to force anything, on the contrary, the employees had a lot of fun with it,” reports Nikolas Diedrich, Managing Director and CFO of the Dermatologikum Group.

Since then, the employees have been using the app very intensively – and in the first four weeks alone, they exchanged about 5,500 messages via Siilo and founded numerous groups. The app is used in many ways at the Dermatologikum: an info board serves as an intranet, new employees are provided with the most important information about onboarding via Siilo, clinical studies are coordinated in the app and the messenger function facilitates the exchange between specialists. ​“The photo function is particularly important for us, as we work a lot with images of skin changes in dermatology. Fortunately, Siilo makes this uncomplicated and quick and, above all, compliant with data protection,” says Managing Director and COO Selma Heinrich-Oppermann. The employees at the Kiel and Bonn sites should also benefit from this as soon as possible – the introduction of Siilo is currently also taking place there with a rally. 

Copyright photography: Dermatologikum