Ghent-based startup Squire has introduced an AI-powered solution designed to automate the creation of consultation reports for general practitioners (GPs). This innovation significantly reduces the administrative workload, addressing the challenges posed by increasing patient demand and limited resources. Currently offered as a free trial version to all Flemish doctors, the software demonstrates substantial potential. The start-up was co-founded by Entourage, the venture studio and investment fund established by Pieterjan Bouten, which will provide strategic and financial support to accelerate the platform's development and expand its international presence.
Flemish GPs are required to prepare SOEP (Subjective, Objective, Evaluation, and Plan) reports for each consultation, incorporating medical codings such as ICPC-2 and SNOMED CT. These codes ensure consistent, computer-processable classification of medical data within electronic patient records.
“Considering that a GP completes an average of 20 to 30 consultations a day, you can imagine that preparing these reports takes up a huge amount of time,” says Stan Callewaert, CEO and co-founder of Squire. “Research therefore shows that GPs spend almost a third of their time on administration. This while the workload is only increasing. The ageing population is driving the demand for care to unseen heights, but at the same time a healthy work-life balance is becoming a priority for more and more and especially younger doctors. Not surprisingly, more than half of all GP practices in Belgium have implemented a (partial) patient stop. So any help is welcome to balance the demand for care and the hands to provide it. With Squire and the power of artificial intelligence, we want to help turn this tide.”
The software generates draft consultation reports based on conversations between doctors and patients, allowing for later editing and finalization. Automatic medical coding ensures the reports are structured and compliant with standards. “With Squire and recent developments in AI, we can help halve the time GPs spend on administration. In this way, we create much-needed space for physician expertise and personalised patient care,” says Ignace Maes, CTO and co-founder of Squire.
Squire’s software is already in use in several GP practices, district health centres, and out-of-hours surgeries across Flanders. The platform, currently available as a free trial for all Flemish doctors, is being continually improved based on user feedback. “The software supports me in preparing consultation reports. The platform is constantly being developed based on feedback from doctors like me, which only enhances efficiency in my practice,” says Ghent-based GP Bâlâ Kirimli.
The start-up, co-founded by Entourage, benefits from the expertise of Pieterjan Bouten, who brings significant experience in scaling software companies globally, including work with Corilus. The solution is also supported by Start it @KBC, with ongoing discussions about integration into existing GP software platforms.
“We are incredibly excited to work with Stan, Ignace and the team at Squire,” says Pieterjan Bouten. “We believe they have a unique combination of technological and medical expertise. Today, doctors spend a significant portion of their time on administrative tasks, and we have rarely seen such rapid technological adoption in healthcare as AI copilots. The US has seen tremendous growth in this sector over the past year and we expect a similar trend in Europe. Squire is excellently positioned to become a category-defining player in the European healthtech sector, with the potential to radically transform healthcare.”
