What is e-Health?
We believe that e-health is an ideal descriptor for a collaborative,
'whole system' IT vision, the need for which is currently fast emerging
throughout the UK. There are many examples of eHealth initiatives
to be found throughout the UK.
Some national NHS examples include (July 2005):
- In Wales the strategy is called Informing Healthcare
- In Scotland there is the National eHealth/IM & T Strategy
- In England there is Connecting for Health
We recognize that many currently evolving terms are included
in e-health and examples of these terms - which might be more familiar
to you or your project or interest include:
|
Informatics/informaticians
|
|
Tele-medicine
|
|
Tele-care, Tele-health
|
|
Telephone triage
|
|
Video-Conferencing
|
|
Tele-consults
|
|
Digital Xrays/image transfer
|
|
Computer Based Decision Support Systems
|
|
Multi-professional integrated e-pathways/e-records/EPRs/Care
Records Service (CRS)
|
|
Distance learning via tele-conferencing/on-line
|
|
We have adopted the Four Pillars of e-Health (Richardson R 2000)
as a model from which to develop a systems vision of e-health.
Pillar 1 : Web Based Education/CPD Pillar
Pillar 2 : Clinical Applications Pillar
 Pillar
3 : NHS Care Record Pillar
Pillar 4 : Public Health Information Pillar
The diagram below attempts to illustrate this all-inclusive approach:
The reason for the adoption of this emerging model is that it offers
a user friendly framework for application and understanding of the
inter-connected parts of e-health which may otherwise be functionally
separated by the bullet point approach above. In each area of health
care system patient contact all the pillars should be considered
- the record, the applications associated with the generation of
that record, the individual information the client needs to be an
informed partner in care delivery - and importantly the learning
that the care teams themselves need in order to implement, develop,
evaluate and research the e-health pathway. Where are you in the
model above?
The Network have developed the following powerpoint presentation
which - as you click through it - illustrates our adaptation of
the Four Pillars Model applied to a real patient pathway - and includes
the associated eHealth Nurses Network vision
We look forward to meeting you at the regional meetings - where
the above model may be debated discussed and improved as we advance
the practice of e-health. We are also keen to hear your thoughts
and views - and where your practice sits in our model: Contact
us
Back to top
|
