(HealthTech Wire / Interview) - Christina Roosen, the Executive Director of HIMSS Europe talks to HealthTech Wire why eHealth Week will be focusing on connecting the home and the hospital, why she thinks the time is right for eHealth to become mainstream and why the Nordic countries are so good at it.
Ms Roosen, you must be excited about hosting eHealth Week in Denmark – your home country.
I certainly am. Not only because it is in Denmark, but because it will be the largest event ever to bring together all stakeholders in Europe in order to align 21st century healthcare to 21st century living. We are experiencing an overwhelming interest in the event and we estimate about 4000 delegates and at least 100 exhibitors to gather in Copenhagen in May.
What will be the highlights of eHealth Week?
Expect many! eHealth Week 2012 will be the milestone for catapulting eHealth out of the niche into the mainstream. The core element of eHealth Week is the exchange of best practice for the management of data and information in hospitals. The CIOs, health-IT professionals, politicians and researchers come there to advance 21st century healthcare.
We are currently working on several projects, including a visual demonstration of an information-supported patient journey through the Danish health system; a fashion show with intelligent textiles in cooperation with the Danish Design Centre as well as a collaboration and presence with the 2012 Paralympics. And with the European Commission’s Ministerial Conference on eHealth celebrating its 10th anniversary, there is a lot of anticipation for the future political roadmap for eHealth.
Why is it important to connect the home with the hospital?
The main goal is to empower people to live independently in their homes as long as possible. It is what people want and it is an economic necessity: Given the demographic future development our healthcare systems will not be sustainable. The total age-related spending in the EU 27 is expected to increase by 4.75% points of GDP by 2060. The European Commission’s counter-strategy is to increase the average person's time of independent living by two years by 2020.
All theory still, or solutions at work?
In Stockholm for example, they implemented a central IT solution to support 16,000 home care employees taking care of 27,000 elderly people. It saves care givers up to 15% of their time. On top, if given consent by the patient, relatives can access the reports of the home-care services online, to understand the situation and needs of their relative. Another Nordic city, Espoo in Finland, uses a digitally assisted chronic care model. The number of diabetes patients with good control of their glucose metabolism has risen 10% in four years!
Why are the Nordic countries so good at eHealth?
One might think because they are small and rich. This certainly is an aspect. But in fact, they had a look at their demographic development and their economics and achieved consensus that something must be done. Achieving this wide-spread consensus might be easier in smaller countries. But there are also other countries that move ahead quickly – large and small. Most of the EMRAM Stage 6 hospitals are from Spain. EMRAM is the free bench-marking service from HIMSS Analytics that shows the adoption of the electronic medical records and the digitization level of a hospital.
Why should Health-IT professionals make the journey to Copenhagen; after all, there are local eHealth events they can go to?
eHealth Week is their flagship pan-European event, with completely different content from what delegates can find at their national show. Plus the networking opportunities at eHealth week reach far beyond what a national show can offer, due to its international scope. Same as the European Congresses of Radiology or Cardiology, the event addresses the leaders in the field; the strategic thinkers, those who can make things happen. CIOs and their colleagues can access unique know-how and education that will help them implement efficient, state-of-the-art IT systems at their organizations and take eHealth into action. We do hope that they take back the spirit of eHealth Week to their home countries; and therefore we engage with them on an ongoing basis throughout the year – via webcasts, local events, analytics services and media channels. After all, we want to transform healthcare through IT and that is an ongoing effort from all parties involved – local, regional, national and international.
Will there be industry solutions on display at eHealth Week?
Yes, we are expecting more than 100 exhibitors. Health-IT vendors can meet the decision makers who layout the roadmap for sustainable, efficient and high-quality care across Europe. Among the more than 4,000 expected delegates are CIOs from leading European university hospitals, research organizations but also the public authorities in charge of deciding on budgets and investments. With this year’s focus on connecting the home and the hospital, I am sure we will see some new and exciting technologies.
How do you envision the hospital 20 years from now?
Information is the heartbeat of modern healthcare: The hospital of the future will be an information power-house; with data no longer residing in silos, but in systems that allow it to be used for better, safer and more efficient care. Well informed, independent and mobile patients will receive the best possible care in a way that is compatible with their 21st century life style. This is what HIMSS is ultimately aiming for: the betterment of healthcare through IT.
Ms. Roosen, thank you very much for this interview. (HTW)
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