New technologies have enabled a new type of healthcare: E-health uses new technology to bring clinicians in contact with their patients. E-health can be applied to many different parts of the healthcare system. For example, a doctor can speak with speak with his clients by using a webcam, instead of making a physical appointment.
Another example is that nurses can follow their patients, that regularly need extra care, through screens and monitors. This way they can monitor them from a distance and only have to get into action when something seems to be wrong, instead of mandatory routine checks.
The idea behind E-health is to reduce the total healthcare costs and to make healthcare easier and more effective. Let’s take a look at a quick example of the healthcare situation within the Netherlands. In 2000, the total healthcare costs took around 10% of the BNP. In 2015, it grew to 15% of the BNP. In 2040 it will be at least 25%. This growth can be explained by the ageing process in the Netherlands. People live longer and need more healthcare and there are less and less people that can pay for them. E-health is one of the solutions to make a stop to these growing costs.
But E-health also has dangerous sides. A big problem lies within Privacy aspects. Very personal and sensitive information is exchanged through E-health, for instance very personal video footage of patients. Hackers could steal this information, which could mean great danger.
Nurses or doctors may not have the rightful skills in order to use the applications of E-health. These workers are used to years of traditional healthcare practices and not to innovative ways of treatment.
Actually, the biggest danger is the disappearance of physical contact with clients. Doctors sometimes just need to see or feel their patients to make an accurate diagnosis. With E-health physical appointments or treatment will slowly disappear, leaving the patient alone.
That’s an interesting trend you have spotted there. E-health is definitely a big opportunity to decrease the grow of the total healthcare costs. However, it is important to think about the dangerous sides, which you mentioned, as well. The privacy concern is a big issue nowadays, since more and more information becomes available online. However, other confidential information, as diplomas, is also available online. Here the security of the documents is arranged via a log-in authentication with DigiD. Therefore after investing in a good security strategy and software, the system should be able to protect against unauthorized access from hackers and others.
To prevent against the use of E-health by unrightfully skilled nurses or doctors, certain standards and certificates should be developed. Different regulations have been made to structure the use of E-health (KNMG, 2016).
Then the biggest danger, the disappearance of physical contact with clients. I think this fear is not be very probable in the near future. We still are all human and want face-to-face contact as well besides our virtual world. However, E-health is a big opportunity to support people who are looking for more anonymous mental health help or for people that cannot effort to spend their ‘Eigen Risico = additional fee for healthcare per year’ since it is cheaper.
Furthermore the online support could educate patients, so no physical appointment is needed for small maladies. More sever illnesses could still be threated the traditional way. This is known as blended care in the E-health industry.
Another advantage of E-health is that patients are more involved with their treatment. An online environment offers the opportunity to let patients check their treatment file after which they can Google even more about a certain malady, or ask a question to a professional could be asked in the online environment.
Overall it sounds more positive and E-health could definitely be a good support for the traditional healthcare industry.
KNMG, 2016: https://www.knmg.nl/advies-richtlijnen./dossiers/ehealth.htm
“Actually, the biggest danger is the disappearance of physical contact with clients. Doctors sometimes just need to see or feel their patients to make an accurate diagnosis. With E-health physical appointments or treatment will slowly disappear, leaving the patient alone.”
I think this is a very valid point, you should also consider what this means for the patient. Does this have any effect on the patients well being?
There are multiple studies about patients being isolated because of their illness. For example the following study: “The majority showed a negative impact on patient mental well-being and behaviour, including higher scores for depression, anxiety and anger among isolated patients.” (Abad C, et. al. 2010)
Could those effects also count for the inpatients that do not have any interaction with a doctor in person anymore?
Abad C, Fearday A, Safdar N. Adverse effects of isolation in hospitalised patients: a systematic review. J Hosp Infect 2010; 76(2):97-102.