Redesigning healthcare: The 2.4 billion euro question?

Abstract

Although it has been possible to transfer electrocardiograms via a phone line for more than 100 years, use of internet-based patient monitoring and communication systems in daily care is uncommon. Despite the introduction of numerous health-monitoring devices, and despite most patients having internet access, the implementation of individualised healthcare services is still limited. On the other hand, hospitals have invested heavily in massive information systems offering limited value for money and connectivity. However, the consumer market for personal healthcare devices is developing rapidly and with the current healthcare-related investments by tech companies it can be expected that the way healthcare is provided will change dramatically. Although a variety of initiatives under the banner of ‘e-Health’ are deployed, most are characterised by either industry-driven developments without proven clinical effectiveness or individual initiatives lacking the embedding within the traditional organisations. However, the introduction of numerous smart devices and internet-based technologies facilitates the fundamental redesign of healthcare based on the principle of achieving the best possible care for the individual patient at the lowest possible cost.Conclusion The way healthcare is delivered will change, but to what degree healthcare professionals together with patients will be able to redesign healthcare in a structured manner is still a question.

Mobile health in adults with congenital heart disease: current use and future needs

“…There is also significant physician hesitation about implementing mHealth. Patients could potentially overload physicians and nurses with additional work and medical professionals have concerns about the quality of the data generated by mHealth devices [ 11 , 20 ]. Additionally, many physicians are not reimbursed for mHealth.…”

“…Additionally, many physicians are not reimbursed for mHealth. At this stage mHealth is only reimbursed in a limited number of cases, and reimbursement is commonly not in proportion to the time required [ 11 ].…”

“…Mobile health (mHealth) is the provision of medical care facilitated by mobile technologies capable of delivering health information, monitoring clinical signs and enabling direct care and patient education [ 9 ]. There are many potential uses of mHealth, such as E‑support, E‑care, tele-monitoring, tele-treatment, teleconsultation and tele-diagnosis [ 10 , 11 ]; mHealth brings opportunities to stimulate a healthy life style, to remind patients on medication use, and to enhance monitoring in an attempt to improve outcome. However, it is not known if adults with CHD are currently using mHealth or what type of mHealth they will need in the near future.…”

Digital Innovation as Design of Digital Practice: Doctors as Designers in Healthcare

“…It is argued here that this development cannot be confined to creating traditional medical diagnoses and procedures because medical professionals are implicated in the (re)design of practice for health and wellness with digital innovations [5,6,7]-that is, in the design of digital practice. When this happens, medical professionals are challenged to engage in the empirical and normative realities of incorporating (or not) digital innovations into their practices [8,9,10,11]. So, what does it mean for doctors to be designers?…”

Using Smart Technology to Improve Outcomes in Myocardial Infarction Patients: Rationale and Design of a Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial, The Box

“…Recent advances in information and communication technologies have enabled remote monitoring of vital signs and remote doctor-patient contacts (together encompassing part of the broad concept of telemedicine ) [ 5 - 9 ]. In recent years, a number of smartphone-compatible wearables have received a European Conformity (CE)-mark and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance, and are available for over-the-counter sale in the European Union and the United States [ 10 ].…”