Hospital Immersion Series – Article #2

7 years of hospital immersion:
Spotlighting OB-E, an ambitious initiative led by caregivers for the benefit of patients.

In the first article in this series, we presented LallianSe’s choice to immerse itself in the heart of the hospital, at Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, and the genesis of the Innovation Challenge. These calls for projects were designed as springboards to support and promote innovation born in the hospital field, driven by those who care for patients every day

Today, this second article highlights the OB-E project, which particularly caught the jury’s attention during Innovation Challenge #4.

OB-E: An Essential Innovative Response to Address a Major Public Health Issue

Led by Eve DESNOYERS , then a dietitian and coordinator of the Obesity Specialized Center (CSO) in the Ile-de-France region (IDF), and Professor Judith Aron-wisnewsky, a physician-researcher specializing in obesity and related diseases, OB-E offers personalized e-learning support to patients living with overweight or obesity, complementing medical monitoring. Since then, the team has been expanded with the participation of Camille Salaün (new coordinator of the CSO in the IDF Est region and dietitian) and DrMargot Denismedical coordinator of the CSO in the IDF Est region) for the production of new ETP modules.

In France, nearly 48.3% of the population is overweight or obese, a figure that is constantly increasing. Obesity also affects the most socioeconomically disadvantaged twice as frequently. The provision of care, and in particular Therapeutic Patient Education (TPE), remains limited: often offered only in person, it effectively excludes many patients who do not have access to care. This observation led to the creation of OB-E, which makes therapeutic and preventive tools recommended by the French National Authority for Health (HAS), accessible (free of charge for patients), but which are often difficult for patients to access.

From the Innovation Challenge to the creation of a foundation!

When Judith Aron-Wisnewsky and Eve Desnoyers decided to apply for the Innovation Challenge, it was with conviction and ambition:

« We strongly believed in the potential of our project and wanted to share it with others to continue to grow it.»

Winner of the second prize in the Innovation Challenge #4, OB-E received a financial grant of €7,000 and skills sponsorship from LallianSe for 6 months. At the end of this skills sponsorship phase, LallianSe continued its pro bono support – a strong and obvious commitment on the part of the team given the challenge of the project, its potential impact, and the quality of the relationship established with the project leaders. Very quickly, the project became an entrepreneurial adventure for which it was necessary to define the trajectory. Judith Aron-Wisnewsky and Eve Desnoyers explain:

« LallianSe was our guide through the fog, always guiding us back on the path to move forward. Thanks to their advice, we were able to transform a project into an adventure: the creation of a sheltered foundation under the aegis of the Fondation pour la Recherche Médicale (FRM). LallianSe shared their network of contacts with us to connect us with the FRM. We would never have known who to approach, or dared to approach the FRM, or even thought about becoming a sheltered foundation. We would never have imagined how to approach funders (through sponsorship).»

This pivotal step came to fruition thanks to a connection initiated by LallianSe, which has been working with the Fondation pour la Recherche Médicale (FRM) for several years. This commitment was accompanied by a strong moral and ethical ambition, without which the collaboration with the FRM would not have been possible. It is precisely this dimension that has made it possible to build a solid, sustainable foundation project aligned with the public interest. Valerie Lemarchandel, Scientific Director of the FRM and member of the Executive Board, recalls:

«What particularly convinced us was the scientific relevance of the project, the potential impact on patients, the scope of general interest, as well as the remarkable commitment and energy of the two project leaders.»

The FRM then proposed a solid legal, administrative and scientific framework, allowing the OB-E project to gain legitimacy and greater sustainability, Valérie Lemarchandel explains:

« The mention under the aegis of the Foundation for Medical Research strengthens the visibility and credibility of the initiatives supported.»

A tripartite collaboration based on trust

This synergy between the two project leaders, the FRM and LallianSe, was decisive and was able to be built on solid foundations:

« From the outset, the collaboration ran smoothly, with a clear division of roles, a dialogue marked by great listening skills and a real dynamic of co-construction » emphasizes Valérie Lemarchandel.

For Judith Aron-Wisnewsky and Eve Desnoyers, the challenge was to navigate a path strewn with administrative and regulatory pitfalls, but always relying on valuable advice and shared expertise.

And today?

The OB-E Foundation, under the aegis of the Fondation pour la Recherche Médicale, was born. OB-E is now deployed at the Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, where it has been widely adopted by healthcare teams and used by more than 300 patients, enabling the initiation of real-life research projects targeted by the ambition of the sheltered foundation (in order to evaluate the benefits of this care tool in real life). Initial additional funding has already been obtained, the team mobilized around the project has grown, with the contributions of Margot Denis and Camille Salaün opening up new perspectives:

« Our objectives are to implement the solution to new themes and to measure the impact of e-course support, while ensuring the sustainability of the structure.»

The role of caregivers in hospital innovation

This adventure illustrates two strong convictions that we have seen over the course of the various editions of the Challenge Innovation:

  1. A project can only succeed if it is driven by a complementary team that translates patient needs into reality. Paramedics and physicians are thus the two pillars of this essential alliance to bring innovation to life—beyond individual energy and willpower.
  2. While ideas are the foundation, their appropriate articulation and perspective are crucial. Operational and strategic capabilities, with a 360° vision, are required to bring projects to fruition.

Judith Aron-Wisnewsky and Eve Desnoyers testify: « Caregivers are constantly innovating to adapt to the needs of their patients. But to innovate beyond daily practice, you have to dare, and LallianSe was the catalyst.»

Beyond these observations, the OB-E project also highlights the exceptional motivation and energy of caregivers: capable of carrying out a demanding and above all engaging initiative, alongside their daily mission with patients.

The final word

For both the FRM and LallianSe, OB-E is an ideal example of what collaboration between fieldwork, strategic support and scientific expertise can produce.

« LallianSe plays a central role in identifying and supporting innovative projects with a strong impact on health. A true catalyst, it facilitates strategic connections and optimizes the chances of success » concludes Valérie Lemarchandel.

At LallianSe, we are proud of this support, and convinced that innovation is born above all from the meeting of skills, ambition and trust.

In our next article, we will continue this series with two other winning projects: T-OUT and Pikidou, supported by the experience of Romain Gombert, who helped to bring these projects to fruition.

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