> Resources and Publications > PHC RIS infonet > December 2007 > FOCUS on...eHealth for the consumer-patient

FOCUS on... eHealth for the consumer-patient

A SUMMARY

The Primary Health Care Research & Information Service's latest publication FOCUS on.eHealth for the consumer-patient reviews how information and computer technology (ICT) is expected to change health service delivery.

eHealth is an umbrella term that describes ICT involvement in health care delivery. The term encompasses two ideas: the global exchange of non clinical information via the Internet (cybermedicine), and applied information and computer technology to support clinical care at a distance (telemedicine or telehealth).

eHealth is driven by consumer-patients readily embracing cybermedicine to access health information. Various web based pathways facilitate health-related information exchange such as:

• General purpose search engines
• Health-purpose search engines, which screen the Web sites for accredited quality markers
• Web portals or gateways channelling consumers to selected (quality assessed) health sites
• Virtual communities exchanging information through peer-to-peer communication
• Advanced search services searching (for a fee) current databases for current and comprehensive medical information.

These developments bear potential benefits but also challenges as technology has the potential to have very important consequences for rural health communities as long as high speed broadband is available.

Cybermedicine has the potential to promote disease prevention. However, limited access to ICT and low literacy levels may limit this to some consumer-patients. Incorrect information on some Internet sites can also be a concern.

Self-educated patients demanding to participate in health decisions may shift the doctor-patient power relationship. In addition, email and Patient Portals, which integrates components of email and Internet applications, are poised to impact on traditional doctor-patient communication.

Concurrently there are radical changes within the system, as the industry is pressured by government to implement ICT applications in health care. Some in the industry are still reluctant, yet it appears the eHealth train is rolling and the consumer-patient is already on board.

To read the full publication visit the PHC RIS website <www.phcris.org.au/publications/focuson>.