Raising the Benchmark in Cardiac Healthcare

Leading Resolutions project managed the build of an online data platform that is already raising the bar in healthcare and patient outcomes internationally, enabling surgeons to learn from best-in-class healthcare.

Digital transformation is not often thought of as a life-saving exercise but in the case of EACTS it is. Leading Resolutions worked with internationally renowned cardiothoracic surgeons to break down barriers and raised the benchmark for healthcare globally.

The team project managed the build of an online data platform that enables surgeons to learn from best-in-class healthcare internationally. It now houses over 4000 procedures and 300 different variables of medical conditions and patient characteristics. Already, 20 hospitals have signed up to use the platform, with more hospitals and medical bodies across Europe set to onboard. It officially went live in September 2024 and is already raising the bar internationally, enabling surgeons to learn from best-in-class healthcare.

The European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS) represents thousands of surgeons across Europe, united in the mission to improve patient outcomes through collaboration, research, and shared clinical excellence. Central to this mission was their Adult Cardiac Database (ACD), a vital repository of surgical data used to benchmark hospital performance and identify best practices.

However, the database was at risk. Originally housed on a single hospital server in the UK, the data was poorly governed, vulnerable to loss, and inaccessible to most members. When the hosting surgeon left the hospital without handing over governance of the data, the hospital switched off access. Immediately, EACTS lost access to a crucial tool for improving care across Europe.

An initial attempt to rebuild the platform with another provider failed to meet expectations. What EACTS needed wasn’t just a technical solution, it was a strategic, empathetic partner to bring together multiple clinical and technical stakeholders, safeguard sensitive data, and deliver a robust, compliant platform that would support their long-term vision.

Leading Resolutions was brought in to lead the transformation. From the outset, they took a hands-on, collaborative approach, embedding themselves within EACTS’ team, listening to the needs of surgeons, administrators, and statisticians, and translating those into a clear, actionable roadmap.

Recognising the complexity of the project and the need for both agility and structure, a hybrid delivery model combining Agile and Waterfall methodologies was implemented. They managed the project end-to-end: from scoping and technical requirement gathering, to stakeholder governance, testing, and go-live.

Critical to the project’s success was navigating the varied expectations of EACTS’ multi-layered governance structure. Leading Resolutions worked across four decision-making bodies, aligning timelines, budgets, and priorities. They also addressed major data integrity issues by restructuring over 300 variables, standardising inputs, and ensuring the platform complied with GDPR, WCAG accessibility, and international data standards.

The final solution included:

• A secure, cloud-based data platform hosting 4,000+ cardiac procedures
• Advanced visualisation tools including funnel plots and mobile-responsive dashboards
• Multi-level access controls tailored to clinicians, researchers, and administrators
• Anonymised, opt-in patient data protocols to enable responsible, scalable research
• A “shopping cart” user interface to simplify data selection and reduce error risk

The platform officially went live in September 2024 and was unveiled at the EACTS Annual Conference in Lisbon. Already, 20 hospitals have signed on, with many more preparing to onboard. Four hospitals have fully integrated their data, while national registries from the Netherlands, Sweden, and Switzerland are set to join.

For the first time, cardiothoracic surgeons across Europe can access a single, reliable source of surgical outcome data; they can now benchmark performance and ultimately, improve patient care on a global scale.

Leading Resolutions didn’t just build a platform; they enabled a shift in how life-saving clinical data is collected, understood, and used. Their empathetic approach, structured delivery, and deep stakeholder engagement ensured that a once-fragmented system is now a gold standard for digital healthcare collaboration.