What do we mean by “e-Health”?
The term “e-Health” is interpreted in different ways in the public arena. Here, therefore, is our definition:
The term “e-Health” refers to internet, intranet and IT-application-based information, communication and transactions relating to the public health service.
Appropriate services are offered both by public and by private-sector-oriented institutions and support both the actual medical treatment and its organization and administration.
These include:
- Health-related and disease-specific information for patients, doctors, nursing staff and health administrators, which encompass both the actual medical care and its organizational and economic aspects
- Large health portals which lead to further product suppliers and promote networking
- Presentations of health facilities like hospitals, ambulatories and doctors, showing their range of services and options for preparing patients for treatment
- Supportive organizational measures for planning, appointment management and feedback in the public health service
- Support for international and national projects within the public health service which are concerned with new networks, applications and technology
- Treatment of all thereby necessary safety aspects for individual patients