eHealth: Need for a Global Vision and Approach

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eHealth Need for a Global Vision and Approach
F. Lievens1,2, M. Jordanova3,4 1Board Member,
Secretary and Treasurer of International Society
for Telemedicine eHealth (ISfTeH),
Switzerland 2Director, Med-e-Tel, Belgium,
lievens_at_skynet.be 3Space Technology
Research Institute, Bulgarian Academy of
Sciences, Bulgaria 4Education Program
Coordinator, Med-e-Tel, mjordan_at_bas.bg
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Universal Global

• Health is an UNIVERSAL right
• eHealth requires a GLOBAL approach

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eHealth
eHealth is the use of the information and
communication technologies (ICT) for health
(Editorial, JISfTeH, Vol 1, No 2, 2013, pp.
52-53)
Fisk MJ. The Emerging Evidence for
www.medetel.lu/download/2010/parallel_sessions/pr
esentation/day2/The_Emerging_Evidence.pdf
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Relies on IT achievements and Connectivity
Infrastructure
Within a Century Developes from Casuistic to
Practice
March 22,1905 W. Einthoven tele-ECG, Dumanskyy et
al. 2013
April 2011, ECG Patch Monitoring Patients 24/7,
Dinesen et al., Med-e-Tel 2011
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Promises

• Quick, timely high quality affordable healthcare
  for all, everywhere, at any time
• Overcoming shortage of healthcare staff and
  funding
• Optimization of patient care
• Optimization of the work of medical staff
• Enhancing preventive care
• Protecting human rights
• Educating and thus empowering citizens

The fulfillment of these promises requires an
approach at global level
SourceeHealth is Worth it The economic benefits
of implemented eHealth solutions at 10 European
sites (2006) www.ehealth-impact.org/
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Nowadays eHealth is able to provide healthcare
everywhere and reach those that are in need on
land, at sea or in the air
All illustrations are from Med-e-Tel,
www.medetel.eu
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With so many applications and solutions all over
the world, having a global vision on eHealth
development and achievements is a must!
Source http//tequilabattle.com/wp-content/upload
s/2013/01/316416_10150341224833805_1402871151_n.jp
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www.isfteh.org
ISfTeH is THE International Federation of
national associations who represent their
countrys Telemedicine and eHealth stakeholders
and exists to facilitate the international
dissemination of knowledge and experience in
Telemedicine and eHealth and to provide access to
recognized experts in the field worldwide
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• Activities
• Promoting Supporting Telemedicine/eHealth
  activities around the globe
• Incubating Assisting the start-up of new
  national organizations
• Networking Scientific Platform
• Annual International Events
• Supporting member countries in the field of
  Telemedicine and eHealth
• Strategy Policies
• Regulations Standards
• Business Model Reimbursement
• Education Training

Worldwide Membership (79 countries August
2013)
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Communication Tools

• Website www.isfteh.org
• Discussion Forum (on the website)
• ISfTeH Newsletter (quarterly)
• ISfTeH e-Journal
• National eHealth Strategies
• Australia
• Ghana
• Kenya
• Rwanda
• Scotland
• South Africa
• Sweden

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ISfTeH Working Groups

• Education and e-Journal
• eHealth Economics
• Medical- and Bio-Informatics
• Open Source
• Students
• Junior Doctors
• Tele-Nursing
• Tele-Odontology
• Tele-Ophtalmology
• Women and eHealth WoW
• Good Practice Models
• e-Portuguese
• e-Hispanic

Tele-ophtalmology in action (www.medetel.eu,
2013)
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Annual Event Med-e-TelThe International
Educational and Networking Forum for eHealth,
Telemedicine and Health ICT, www.medetel.eu
Knowledge Resource Center
gt3700 abstracts, papers and PPT
Download for free!
Per country
Per topic
Evidence based
Per year
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ISfTeH Meetings

• 18th ISfTeH International Conference, Takamatsu,
  Japan October 17-20, 2013
• Med-e-Tel, Luxembourg, G.D. of Luxembourg, April
  9-11, 2014
• 19th ISfTeH International Conference, Paris,
  France, October 16, 2014

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Sometimes, it is just as important to know where
to go for available information as to receive the
exact information itself
www.isfteh.org www.medetel.eu
and many more
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Past Present and Future
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• There is no way back!
• The future of eHealth does not evolve between two
  parallel lines.
• It evolves between two permanently
  enlarging axes, meaning that, as we
• speak, the scope becomes broader and the
  potential increases day by day.
• Lets hope that eHealth will grow in such a
  controlled way that, maybe within 10-20-50 years,
  there will be no more need to talk about it, as
  it will have melted entirely in the common
  practice of medicine and health policies!
• But never forget it is all about the
  Patient/Citizen!!!!!

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Join Hands Across the Globe
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Thank You!