Health Telematics (AIM) Final Report
  
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Updated: Feb 1, 97
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TELECARE |
Inventory of the use of Telematics in the EC
| Project value: | | 150 KECU |
| EC contribution: | | 150 KECU |
| No of partners: | | 1 |
| No of countries: | | 5 |
| Duration: | | 12 months |
| Contact:
Silvio Martins Baltazar
IGIF, Health Ministry Portugal
Av Columbano Bordalo Pinheiro 87, 4°
P-1000 Lisboa, Portugal
Tel.: +351-1-726.96.95
Fax: +351-1-726.49.19
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Overview
It is the first objective study on the use of telematics in two European countries, done with an unbiased statistical methodology (random selection of medical doctors). It is performed, as a pilot, on two countries in order to test the methodology and to identify difficulties prior to extension to other countries.
Objectives
The objectives of the project "Inventory of the use of Telematics in the EC" were to assess the use of Telematics in the Health Sector (Doctors, Health Authorities and Health Institutions), i.e. to know who uses, to which purpose, what kind of information is transmitted, the main advantages, the main difficulties, and to find suggestions for future developments. A survey was launched, and personal interviews with opinion leaders were performed in France and Germany.
Results (July 1993)
The conclusions were that the rate of usage of Telematics by Health Care Professionals (Doctors) is still very low (in Germany about 4%). The reason why they use it, is mainly related with the Administrative aspects of the medical profession. In their opinion, the main advantage of Telematics, lies in the rapid communication (34.11% of the respondents) and permanent availability (30.79%) of Information. The main difficulties are related with the lack of adequate information on the utilities (19.87%) and, to the existence of too many (in their opinion) different software and applications (18.54%)
The main reasons for the non-usage of Telematics by Health Care Professionals, are related with the cost of the equipment (19.54%), lack of need (18.21%), lack of knowledge of the procedures (12.91%), and insufficient training (12.58%).
The experience of the Minitel in France is clearly very important and deserves a more detailed analysis. The Minitel was not introduced specifically for the Health Professionals, but had an enormous impact on them. More than 52% of the French doctors use it mainly for consulting services. Perhaps their experience can be evaluated and its application in other countries studied.
Health Authorities use Telematics mainly for Administrative purposes, as it would be expected. Several projects are underway to integrate the transmission of data, specially to the insurance sector.
In the opinion of Health Authorities, both the development of Communication networking Technology (48.48% of the respondents) and of Computer applications in Medicine (27.27%) are the most important areas to insure the increase of the use of Telematics.
Health Institutions use Telematics also mainly for Administrative purposes: Orders and Payments (56.52%). In the opinion of Health Institutions, Organisations and Health Care Provision (39.19%) is the most important area to be developed to increase the use of Telematics.
Finally, the main difficulties encountered in this study were:
- First, to define Telematics to the persons questioned, see for instance the difficulties that arose with the fax transmission - Doctors do not perceive it as a Telematic transmission.
- Second, and related with the first difficulty, a clear, short and simple definition of who is a Telematic user is necessary.
- Third, a way to increase the answering rate must be studied: the questionnaire might be simplified, with less questions and more focuses to the aspects that are more important for the monitoring of the evolution of the usage of Telematics in the Health Sectors.
In synthesis, the main conclusions of the project Inventory of the Use of Telematics in the EC are :
- An effort must be made to diffuse the advantages of Telematics to increase the awareness of the Health Professionals;
- Telematics Training programs for Health Professionals are needed;
- Equipment and running costs hinder the usage of Telematics by Health Professionals;
- To increase the usage of Telematics in the Health Sector it is necessary to develop applications more adequate to the needs of the health sectors (not only administrative);
- The usage of Telematics in the Administrative and Managerial Systems is one of the most important areas of usage in all three categories considered: Professionals, Authorities and Institutions;
- From the point of view of the organisations inquired - Health Authorities and Health Institutions - there is a great need to improve technology in three areas: Equipment, Telecommunications and Networks.
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