Contexts and Opportunities of e-Health Technology in Medical Care

Abstract

Keeping up with a sound health is a fundamental right for the human beings. It also acts as an indicator of the socio-economic development of a country. However, nowadays keeping sound health is challenging because of rapidly increasing non-communicable diseases. Concurrently, we are on the edge of very fast technological advancement which includes usage of cellular technology, high-speed internet and wireless communications. These technologies and their unique applications are creating lots of new dimensions in health care system which is known as e-Health. The medical call centers, emergency toll-free telephone services are being used in all over the world. The newly developed electronic health system can play a vital role in the remote regions of emerging and developing countries although sometimes it seems difficult due to the lack of communication infrastructure. E-Health can be a promising aspect for providing public health benefits if it integrates with the conventional medical system. More strategic approaches are necessary for the planning, development, and evaluation of e-Health. This article is written to depict the existing and future opportunities of e-Health in health support system.

Introduction

Technology has come forth as a thrust to make life easier in our day to day life. Transformation of technology in the medical sector has emerged through different platforms i.e. e-Health, m-Health, and Telemedicine. E-Health technology can be used to disseminate health-related information or services among the health care providers, patients, and clinics. Across-the-board, e-Health is a segment of health informatics which includes m-Health and telemedicine [1]. Due to widespread availability, the wireless connection equipped with a mobile phone has turned the process of communication faster for the patients who also increased the health care utilization. Mobile technology is enabled to provide the remote monitoring benefits for the patients who are restricted in mobility but needs continuous intervention from clinics. It can increase the probabilities to avoid emergency condition by detecting his/her vital signs and bio-signals. Comprehensive studies are taking place in the field of healthcare to discover new devices and create applications suited for clinical practices. The ultimate goal of eHealth is to ensure a rationalize treatment for all group of patients and to improve patient safety and disease outcomes [2]. The aim of this write-up is to briefly discuss the present and future applications of e-Health technology in health care.

Implications of e-Health on Medical Science

Currently, the world is experiencing a significant rise of smartphone users, claiming the figure is to be around 8.5 billion globally [3]. The mobile phone has become an indispensable part of our everyday life. Therefore, any health-related intervention through mobile application demands high chance of acceptability among the user. Global Positioning System (GPS), short message services (SMS) and video conferencing through WLAN/GPRS/3G network to locate a patient who needs immediate support are available. In contrast, the patient can determine his/her physical condition by understanding self-bio-signal and can take a decision of when to go for doctor’s consultancy. Chronic diseases are the most common causes of death around the world [4]. The traditional system of episodic care in the clinic and hospital-based has found not to be enough to overcome chronic diseases [5]. For example, an integrated care installed within a device can offer the COPD patients to approach into a self-management; thus promoting the patient to accept prior treatment [6]. According to World Health Organization, increased adherence to medication can support the patients with chronic disease to live in a better way. Therefore, there are areas where the application of e-Health technology is feasible and needs to be implemented to increase patient compliance and treatment adherence.

Telemedicine is the oldest form of eHealth which was introduced in the 1920s. After the remarkable success of health informatics in providing patient care, the rapid expansion of eHealth technology went forth during the 20th century [2]. As most of the e-Health technology is based on the application of electronic communication, it has found to be acted in remote regions [7]. Hence, e-Health can be used as a vital tool in responding the post-disaster emergency to counter human loss [8]. For example, telemedicine and telehealth have been successfully used recently in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Ike in USA [9]. International investment to build up e-Health technology for this country has abruptly increased as well. Countries like England and USA have invested a significant amount of money to build up Information Technology (e-Health) to provide Health Service for its population [10].

Application of mobile devices and apps in medical care

Technologically equipped cellular interventions are widely accepted in healthcare to deliver quality services [11]. For example, m-Health is providing different health interventions (preventive, promotive, and rehabilitative care) among all people [12]. m-Health in the form of cellular communication is becoming popular among all group of people due to its handy, reliable and easy features [13]. Text messaging or short message service (SMS) have ensured broad coverage in developing countries due to its low price which facilitates the process of accessibility. It can also receive instant feedback from the target group and give them prompt feedback in case of an emergency [14]. Therefore, text messaging and phone calling offer a possible channel to render health behavior changing communications among the people [14]. For example, during the pregnancy period, advanced communication over the telephone can motivate the mothers to seek proper health care [15]. Phone call intervention can solve problems related to illiteracy or limited understanding of language barrier. In the case of inability of the patient’s to answer the call, a voice message (recorded) service can also play the alternate role. M-health can also be introduced in Maternal and Child health care, HIV/AIDS, Malaria, Tuberculosis and many other diseases [9]. Health care professionals are using mobile devices and applications (figure 1) in the way of information management, time management, health record maintenance, consultation, clinical decision making, patient monitoring, medical education, and training to support the entire health system [16]. For example, one study from rural Bangladesh found that child mortality can be decreased significantly by introducing the pulse oximeter in primary health care [17].

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Figure 1. . Mobile devices and their applications for health workers

The most frequently reported types of m-Health initiatives are health call centers, mobile help lines, and toll-free telephone services. Telehealth offers several benefits to the patients. Utilization of telehealth can increase the access to health services, enhance provision of health education by providing cost-effective intervention [18]. Another study showed that video conferencing technology might be a cheaper and less time-consuming solution compared to traditional regular health care visits [19]. Integrating telehealth with the healthcare institution's electronic database can reduce resource usage and also can improve treatment compliance for the people who are homebound and disable [20]. Therefore, the patient can found themselves safe and maintain a secured life by utilizing different devices which enable them to be prepared in emergency condition as well.

Implementation of e-Health technology in Major scale

Electronic and internet-based data transmission, data storage, data safety and confidentiality issues will become the major concern in upcoming years. Moreover, applications of all technologies have limitations, and they are not designed to provide their benefits under every circumstance. For example, most of the health monitoring software runs on the user's smartphone and analyses the data received from the sensors. For the younger generation, using such software can be a natural choice. However, it can be complicated and a challenged phenomenon for the more elderly population. Universal health care is essential, and it needs to be implemented in developing countries [21]. Implementation of e-Health has the potential to cover the health need of rural people. Although providing the real-time data can be a challenge for those who are in need of monitoring devices. Maintenance and expert handling to operate these devices can be somehow cumbersome as well.

e-Health is an umbrella term that combines healthcare and technology to support people in a more efficient way, and it can also reduce health-related costs. Some developed countries who have been implementing health-related interventions, they always consider eHealth to be of top priority. However, the fruitful application of eHealth depends upon the multidisciplinary approaches [2]. Teams must have the necessary expertise for the understanding of specific eHealth project (figure 2). The team includes scientists, physicians, nurses, pharmacists, information technology expert, policy makers as well as the patients [22]. However, there is a great promise that implementing eHealth can improve the total health care system in both developed and developing countries. eHealth is called to be an end-to-end process and is adapted to use under all circumference.

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Figure 2. . Future multidimensional approach of e-Health

Therefore, we can take the benefit of e-Health by using its’ different platform. Under all circumstances from birth registration to death registries, screening to follow-up, emergency intervention to homecare e-Health technology can be used as a vital tool [3]. Clinical Decision Support Systems refers to the computer architecture of specific software apps which can provide Clinical Decision Support (CDS) to the patient. In future, CDS will assist healthcare providers to take accurate decisions by providing rapid and efficient access to relevant medical data [2] and will be able to improve the health infrastructure. Thus, it might help a lot to reduce the treatment cost and give better services to the patients. However, there are many obstacles and challenges for the development, implementation, adoption and acceptance of CDSS which can be the future opportunity to research.

Conclusion

e-Health can be considered to be a promising vehicle for health care provision. More strategic approaches are necessary for the planning, development, and implementation of m-Health. International and national health organizations should focus more on the improvement of e-health technology to make it adapted for the benefits of patients. However, m-Health should not be considered as an ultimate remedy to increase the coverage of health care delivery. It should go side by side along with regular clinical visit and follow-up practices. Finally, new and uprising eHealth technologies have huge potential to bridge the gaps between patient and healthcare support providers. Incorporating technology into the medical care can ensure patient-centered health care system.