Both the European Union and the World Health Organisation (WHO) have recognised ICT-facilitated solutions as key enablers for modern, patient-centered and efficient healthcare services. To support health policies, it has become mandatory to monitor and benchmark Health ICT (eHealth) adoption and use. This is also a priority topic for EU/USA cooperation in the field of eHealth. The OECD plans to coordinate global activities, including involvement of WHO, to develop appropriate approaches and measuring tools.
empirica's director Werner B. Korte and eHealth expert Dr. Veli N. Stroetmann were invited to participate in an OECD expert meeting on May 25 on measuring the progress of global eHealth diffusion. Currently, indicators on eHealth availability and use are not uniform, and do not cover all OECD countries. The European Commission funded empirica studies on eHealth Indicators and eHealth Benchmarking compiled a comprehensive inventory of available statistical evidence on eHealth in Europe, Canada and the USA. This research also developed an indicator framework to support and guide the development of and agreement on a comprehensive set of key global indicators and procedures for data gathering on eHealth. Furthermore, detailed policy recommendations were drafted to take the work on indicators forward. Werner B. Korte and Veli Stroetmann presented the results of these studies at the OECD meeting in Paris and discussed together with other country and OECD/WHO experts and policy makers how to harmonise key global indicators, including how best to coordinate national and European surveys to comparatively measure eHealth progress.
"empirica is proud to have its long standing expertise in eHealth as well as indicator development, monitoring and benchmarking recognised at the level of the OECD and will continue to monitor and assess the eHealth landscape in Europe," concluded Werner B. Korte.
For further information, please visit:
- European Union (ICTs for Health Policy), http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/activities/health/policy/index_en.htm
- European Union (i2010 Benchmarking Framework), http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/eeurope/i2010/benchmarking/index_en.htm
- World Health Organisation (WHO), http://www.euro.who.int/telemed/20060512_1
- OECD, http://www.oecd.org/home/0,2987,en_2649_201185_1_1_1_1_1,00.html
- eHealth Indicators Study, http://www.ehealth-indicators.eu
- eHealth Benchmarking Study, http://www.ehealth-benchmarking.eu
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About empirica
empirica Communication and Technology Research is a private research institute founded in 1976 and based in Bonn, Germany. It specialises in communication and information technology related research and consultancy to clients in both the private and public sector. Its body of expertise ranges from long-term RTD roadmapping, policy and strategy development to pilot trials and EU-wide representative market research. The company has gained a strong profile in the practical development, pilot-testing and market validation of IST-based healthcare services. It observes and interprets market trends and evaluates the socio-economic impact of eHealth applications. In addition, it regularly conducts foresight exercises, representative surveys and compiles data bases of good practice case studies with the support of a dense network of contacts in government, industry and academia. For further information, please visit www.empirica.com.