Last update: August 15, 1996

FIGURE 3.
INTELLIGENT NAVIGATION IN THE EHTO KNOWLEDGE REPOSITRY

It is proposed to develop for each health telematics project a forum (litserv) which will be available for end-users by subscription and which would favour information exchange between projects and end -users. In addition, the Observatory will constitute a horizontal electronic forum facilitating transversal exchanges of information between different types of end-user. In order to avoid information overload, each electronic forum will be moderated by the Observatory. The following broad categories of information will constitute the base of EHTO's information/knowledge base: Information from Health Telematics Projects: it is intended to include the most

relevant Third Framework Programme results within the Observatory's information base together with all public deliverables from the Fourth Framework Programme Health Telematics projects. Systematic information will be collected on the objectives of the projects and on their development. The information obtained will be carefully analysed against certain identified criteria, for example in relation to medical, health policy, technological, industrial, economic, societal, quality, adaptability, ethical and standardisation aspects.

Information from Horizontal Actions: a number of health telematics projects are in the process of developing specific expertise in areas of key interest for health telematics users and service providers. These include technology assessment, developments in education, legal and ethical aspects and quality issues. Complementary activities are taking place within the Member States; the Observatory will establish close links with these projects, and with teams working at national level to ensure appropriate inputs to the Observatory, and with a view to promoting the dissemination of their findings.

Information from Other Related Commission Programmes: a number of other Directorates General of the Commission (for example III, V and XII) or programmes (such as ESPRIT, ACTS, ENS,IDA and BIOMED) have links with the field of health telematics. Additional information, related for example to EUREKA and COST, or concerning funding available under European Structural Funds, The European Regional Development Fund or the European Investment Bank, can be of importance both to users and to service providers, and will form another useful aspect of the Observatory Information service. State of the Art in Health Telematics in Europe: building on work already carried out by a number of projects under the Third Framework Programme, quantitative and qualitative information will be collected on health telematics development in the countries of the European Union. A comparative assessment of the situation at the beginning and the end of the Health Telematics Programme will be carried out in order to evaluate progress. Information on Standardisation: information on all existing standards and on standards in the course of development will be deposited with the Observatory.

A link will be established with the CEN TC 251 WWW server. Through CEN, liaison will be ensured with the United States (ANSI HISB), Japan(MEDIS-DC), Canada and Australia. Observatory Demonstration Site An essential aspect of the Observatory's work will be the demonstration of the prototypes and products developed within the health telematics domain using appropriate technology. The benefits of the Observatory building will be available to all relevant sectors. Demonstrations combined with a wide range of information in a readily accessible and user-friendly form, should permit the user community to obtain both factual and evaluative information. This should assist the user community in the development of their communications networks and, at the same time, help European industry to assess future market potential more accurately. The initial Demo Site architecture will be designed taking full account of the requirements of the Health Telematics Projects. From the outset, the Observatory will provide a technological window where the most recent telematics equipment will be available. It is intended to develop communication links between the EHTO Demo Site and the national Satellite Demo Sites.

This will represent yet another way in which EHTO will offer interested parties from outside the Consortium the opportunity of being actively involved in promotion activities within their own regions. The Observatory's daily activities will include the provision of an information Help Desk, and a reception desk for visitors and potential products and services administrators. Summary The European Health Telematics Observatory will have an important impact on the deployment of Healthcare Telematics services throughout the EU. It will represent an unrivalled source of health telematics information, carefully analysed and classified. Equipped with a Demonstration Site, itself the hub of a group of satellite centres, EHTO will bring together in theme-specific workshops and cascade conferences the entire range of actors from all telematics sectors including top policy makers. As a result of this central position, the Observatory will have a significant role to play in the development of the Health Telematics Programme and related initiatives. Health policy and Industrial strategy groups will play a leading part in this process.

 

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