Critical Issues for the Development of Sustainable EHealth Solutions Healthcare Delivery in the Information Age

Pervasive healthcare is an emerging research discipline, focusing on the development and application of pervasive and ubiquitous computing technology for healthcare and wellness. Pervasive healthcare seeks to respond to a variety of pressures on healthcare systems, including the increased incidence of life-style related and chronic diseases, emerging consumerism in healthcare, need for empowering patients and relatives for self-care and management of their health, and need to provide seamless access for healthcare services, independent of time and place. Pervasive healthcare may be defined from two perspectives. First, it is the development and application of pervasive computing (or ubiquitous computing, ambient intelligence) technologies for healthcare, health and wellness management. Second, it seeks to make healthcare available to anyone, anytime, and anywhere by removing locational, time and other restraints while increasing both the coverage and quality of healthcare. This book proposes to define the emerging area of pervasive health and introduce key management principles, most especially knowledge management, its tools, techniques and technologies. In addition, the book takes a socio-technical, patient-centric approach which serves to emphasize the importance of a key triumvirate in healthcare management namely, the focus on people, process and technology. Last but not least the book discusses in detail a specific example of pervasive health, namely the potential use of a wireless technology solution in the monitoring of diabetic patients. Front Matter....Pages i-xxxiii Front Matter....Pages 1-2 Improving e-Performance Management in Healthcare Using Intelligent IT Solutions....Pages 3-15 An Intelligence e-Risk Detection Model to Improve Decision Efficiency in the Context of the Orthopaedic Operating Room....Pages 17-32 Healthcare Information Systems Design: Using a Strategic Improvisation Model....Pages 33-48 Assimilation of Healthcare Information Systems (HIS): An Analysis and Critique....Pages 49-70 e-Health in China: An evaluation....Pages 71-85 Improving the Process of Healthcare Delivery in an Outpatient Environment: The Case of a Urology Department....Pages 87-97 Adaptations for e-Kiosk Systems in Germany to Develop Barrier-Free Terminals for Handicapped Persons....Pages 99-112 Front Matter....Pages 113-114 Collaborative Approach for Sustainable Citizen-Centered Health Care....Pages 115-134 Strategies and Solutions in eHealth: A Literature Review....Pages 135-147 Online Discussion Forum as a Means of Peer Support....Pages 149-161 Designing Persuasive Health Behavior Change Interventions....Pages 163-181 Accessibility in the Web for Disabled People....Pages 183-189 Front Matter....Pages 191-193 Knowledge Management: Often Neglected but Crucial to eHealth....Pages 195-201 Patient Empowerment: A Two Way Road....Pages 203-227 Citizen eMPOWERment....Pages 229-242 E-Health: Focusing on People-Centric Dimensions....Pages 243-258 A Model of Estimating the Direct Benefits of Implementing Electronic Data Exchange of EMRs and State Immunization Information Systems....Pages 259-268 Front Matter....Pages 269-270 Business Models for Electronic Healthcare Services in Germany....Pages 271-291 Smart Objects in Healthcare: Impact on Clinical Logistics....Pages 293-312 Agency Theory in E-Healthcare and Telemedicine: A Literature Study....Pages 313-330 Front Matter....Pages 269-270 Cost Accounting and Decision Support for Healthcare Institutions....Pages 331-352 A Comprehensive Approach to the IT: Clinical Practice Interface....Pages 353-373 Back Matter....Pages 375-385 Résumé : Critical Issues for the Development of Sustainable E-Health SolutionsNilmini Wickramasinghe, editor Health care companies want to deliver their services with greater efficiency and cost-effectiveness. Consumers want services that are effective, responsive, convenient, and worth the cost. In response to these demands, web-based and other electronic technologies are revolutionizing health care services. Critical Issues for the Development of Sustainable E-Health Solutions surveys this rapid transformation as it is occurring worldwide. Focusing on new applications in consumer-centered health care in North America, Europe, and Asia, the book demonstrates how electronic innovations can balance business objectives (e.g., low cost, improved performance management) while attending to consumer needs (e.g., access, quality, and value). Keeping technical jargon to a minimum, chapter authors dissect the impact of e-solutions on both sides of the health care system, and the keys to successful adaptation and sustainability. Facilitators and obstacles to IT changeovers based on economic, cultural, and other factors are identified in detail. And the book warns realistically against the pitfalls of designing and implementing tech-based platforms in systems not yet ready to make such changes. A sampling of topics covered: A strategic model for health care IS design. Online discussion forums as a means of peer support. Improving web accessibility for disabled people. Knowledge management: often neglected yet crucial to e-health. Business models for electronic health care services: examples from Germany. A comprehensive approach to the IT-clinical practice interface. With its wide scope of innovative ideas, Critical Issues for the Development of Sustainable E-Health Solutions is a path-breaking text for health care administrators and researchers in health care management, health policy, and health services Critical Issues for the Development of Sustainable E-Health Solutions Nilmini Wickramasinghe, ¡editor¡ ¡ Health care companies want to deliver their services with greater efficiency and cost-effectiveness. Consumers want services that are effective, responsive, convenient, and worth the cost. In response to these demands, web-based and other electronic technologies are revolutionizing health care services. Critical Issues for the Development of Sustainable E-Health Solutions surveys this rapid transformation as it is occurring worldwide. ¡ Focusing on new applications in consumer-centered health care in North America, Europe, and Asia, the book demonstrates how electronic innovations can balance business objectives (e.g., low cost, improved performance management) while attending to consumer needs (e.g., access, quality, and value). Keeping technical jargon to a minimum, chapter authors dissect the impact of e-solutions on both sides of the health care system, and the keys to successful adaptation and sustainability. Facilitators and obstacles to IT changeovers based on economic, cultural, and other factors are identified in detail. And the book warns realistically against the pitfalls of designing and implementing tech-based platforms in systems not yet ready to make such changes. ¡ A sampling of topics covered: A strategic model for health care IS design. Online discussion forums as a means of peer support. Improving web accessibility for disabled people. Knowledge management: often neglected yet crucial to e-health. Business models for electronic health care services: examples from Germany. A comprehensive approach to the IT-clinical practice interface. ¡ With its wide scope of innovative ideas, Critical Issues for the Development of Sustainable E-Health Solutions is a path-breaking text for health care administrators and researchers in health care management, health policy, and health services This book explores the emerging area of pervasive health, introducing the principle of knowledge management, its tools, techniques and technologies. Using case examples, the book focuses on the vital triumvirate of people, process and technology