Healthcare and IT advances: what must change
The concept of interoperability between IT and healthcare is becomingly increasingly important. Implementing IT technologies within the healthcare system is an objective which can and must be achieved, in order to improve the quality of services offered and facilitate scientific research.
A standardised system of data collection for patient information, clinical histories, and test results could make a significant difference. However, there are many obstacles ahead and the route is fraught with challenges, these challenges can be overcome if the various organisations involved work together in global collaboration.
The Value in Healthcare program
The latest estimates regarding investment in healthcare (at global level) gathered by the World Economic Forum are worrying. Of the 5,730 billion Euros spent on pharmaceuticals, services and equipment, approximately 30-50% is wasted or mismanaged.
It is a worldwide issue, with some nations in a slightly better position than others, but the differences are so minor as to be negligible. This then, is the backdrop to the creation of the Value for Healthcare project, its main objective being to improve the quality of the healthcare service investments, via the implementation of advanced IT technologies for everyone.
The program to join together IT and healthcare is based on three fundamental points and has a good chance of being achieved. If governments and the most influential multinationals can find common ground and decide to be open towards genuine collaboration, the results will not be long coming.
- The first step involves the creation of a user guide designed for the managers of social and healthcare institutions in the various nations. This will contain certain key points to improve spending and investment in healthcare systems, which will serve to create a solid starting point.
- The second point of the program focuses on a roadmap, which explains how to implement the IT systems and make them standard. This allows for an optimal management of patient data, thanks to the creation of an enormous global database aimed at the study and prevention of illnesses.
- The final step involves collaboration between the main stakeholders (whether public or private) in order to facilitate the wider use of the new IT technologies in the healthcare setting. Scientific cooperation must be promoted via the use and development of common platforms, accessible from anywhere in the world.
This may be a Utopian vision which will be complex to implement, but it is already receiving a significant amount of support from the medical community. If the meagre 38% of new projects coming to fruition in the healthcare sector could be improved (via more focused investment and decisive interventions), the success of the program would be assured.
IT and healthcare can be mutually beneficial
Fulfilling the points set out in the Value for Healthcare project is imperative if we are to reduce waste and improve the quality of global healthcare services. IT and healthcare can benefit enormously from each other, providing they are combined and used correctly.
A future scenario involves a worldwide database containing all patient data (with full respect of privacy of course), which would make it much easier to access clinical notes, treatment details and test results and lots of other data which would be useful for research.
The chance to compare many samples could change the way a condition is dealt with and offer new pointers towards prevention. Diagnoses could become easier and quicker, thereby saving a greater number of lives thanks to quicker, more precise intervention.
Each nation could find this new more technological approach to healthcare beneficial. That means that it’s worthwhile trying to collaborate in order to improve the lives and health of everyone.
Translated by Joanne Beckwith
