E-Health: The user determines the course
"E-health encompasses applications that use the opportunities offered by modern information and communication technologies (ICT) for the treatment and care of patients." (Source: Federal Ministry of Health )
In addition to the freedom of information that the modern patient enjoys through online portals and forums, the use of wearables, ie smart devices that combine the collection of health data (exercise, sleep, heart rate, etc.) with data analysis, is growing. The modern patient wants to have a say when it comes to his health. According to Bitkom, at least 31% of Germans aged 14 and over use an activity tracker. And the use of health apps is growing. For example, consulting firm Price Waterhouse & Cooper found in a study (via Forbes.com ) that health apps are among the most popular apps. A study by the market research institute GfK 28% of all internet users in Germany use apps or fitness trackers for their health or sports activities.
At ec4u, we regularly engage with the latest life sciences and e-health topics and trends, especially on our Life Science blog . And because I'm so close to the source, I personally asked the blog author and health expert Gregor Börner which trends are particularly exciting for him in the e-health sector.
Mobile and self-service
The modern patient wants to be informed faster and more flexibly. He does not want to go to the doctor for every insight into his patient file. He prefers to be able to view results regardless of time and place - of course, taking data protection into account.
Accordingly, doctors and nursing providers are under pressure to offer their services outside of the practice or outside the 1-1 communication.
The term "self-service" in the digital domain means offers that are available to the user online 24/7 and offer simple services.
Gregor Börner sees a number of startups that are driving this development in the customer area, promoted by the classic players in the industry: pharmaceuticals, health insurance companies, etc. But even the classic players themselves are now often on the path of digitization.
At the DAK, for example, you can register online to retrieve information, complete documents, monitor bonus points and apply for and print out certificates. Meanwhile, the technical health insurance offers to submit bills and sick reports online, to organize the scheduling or to monitor the processing status of applications.
In the start-up area, meanwhile, there are solutions to prevent heart attacks and to detect risks early, pregnancy supporters and apps that, for example, facilitate everyday life as diabetics or document and optimize treatment progress (an interesting selection of startups is available here ).
The doctor is replaced less here, but the everyday life of the patient is better documented and regulated and can be shared at the request of the patient even with the doctor so that he has a better insight into the life of his patient and can diagnose correspondingly more accurate.
Telemedicine - the new communication
Telemedicine itself - ie diagnostics and / or therapy over a spatial or temporal distance - is not a new term. However, digital transformation is opening up many new opportunities to revolutionize the concept of telemedicine. However, the balancing act between practical application and data protection often gets in the way.
For example, the use of WhatsApp by pharmacies for the delivery of prescriptions is still a sensitive topic: at the end of the day, paper is still needed.
But the field of telemedicine is benefiting from increased digital communication, which is becoming increasingly attractive through video chat and telephone services.
Although there are still some hurdles for telemedicine due to the ban on distance treatment, in the digital age, too, borders are becoming more and more softened. In Baden-Wuerttemberg, for example , the ban on long-distance treatment ( more on this ) has already been overturned in order not only to facilitate consultative discussions with the doctor, but also treatment via telephone or online platform. Gregor Börner believes that the legal developmentin Germany will move a little faster in the future than it has done so far. Not least because patients such as doctors, providers, etc. can benefit equally. The faster and more the law adapts to the digital possibilities (and the everyday life), taking data and patient protection into consideration, the more varied the patient care can be.
The electronic patient file
The electronic health card has been planned for several years. The concept of the health card is simple: all important information about the patient (treatments, findings and patient data) is stored on the card (or in a central database for which the card of access codes) and instead of the classic card with each visit to the doctor Practice synchronized.
Gregor Börner explains: "What is the promise of the eGK or EHR?
"E-health encompasses applications that use the opportunities offered by modern information and communication technologies (ICT) for the treatment and care of patients." (Source: Federal Ministry of Health )
In addition to the freedom of information that the modern patient enjoys through online portals and forums, the use of wearables, ie smart devices that combine the collection of health data (exercise, sleep, heart rate, etc.) with data analysis, is growing. The modern patient wants to have a say when it comes to his health. According to Bitkom, at least 31% of Germans aged 14 and over use an activity tracker. And the use of health apps is growing. For example, consulting firm Price Waterhouse & Cooper found in a study (via Forbes.com ) that health apps are among the most popular apps. A study by the market research institute GfK 28% of all internet users in Germany use apps or fitness trackers for their health or sports activities.
At ec4u, we regularly engage with the latest life sciences and e-health topics and trends, especially on our Life Science blog . And because I'm so close to the source, I personally asked the blog author and health expert Gregor Börner which trends are particularly exciting for him in the e-health sector.
Mobile and self-service
The modern patient wants to be informed faster and more flexibly. He does not want to go to the doctor for every insight into his patient file. He prefers to be able to view results regardless of time and place - of course, taking data protection into account.
Accordingly, doctors and nursing providers are under pressure to offer their services outside of the practice or outside the 1-1 communication.
The term "self-service" in the digital domain means offers that are available to the user online 24/7 and offer simple services.
Gregor Börner sees a number of startups that are driving this development in the customer area, promoted by the classic players in the industry: pharmaceuticals, health insurance companies, etc. But even the classic players themselves are now often on the path of digitization.
At the DAK, for example, you can register online to retrieve information, complete documents, monitor bonus points and apply for and print out certificates. Meanwhile, the technical health insurance offers to submit bills and sick reports online, to organize the scheduling or to monitor the processing status of applications.
In the start-up area, meanwhile, there are solutions to prevent heart attacks and to detect risks early, pregnancy supporters and apps that, for example, facilitate everyday life as diabetics or document and optimize treatment progress (an interesting selection of startups is available here ).
The doctor is replaced less here, but the everyday life of the patient is better documented and regulated and can be shared at the request of the patient even with the doctor so that he has a better insight into the life of his patient and can diagnose correspondingly more accurate.
Telemedicine - the new communication
Telemedicine itself - ie diagnostics and / or therapy over a spatial or temporal distance - is not a new term. However, digital transformation is opening up many new opportunities to revolutionize the concept of telemedicine. However, the balancing act between practical application and data protection often gets in the way.
For example, the use of WhatsApp by pharmacies for the delivery of prescriptions is still a sensitive topic: at the end of the day, paper is still needed.
But the field of telemedicine is benefiting from increased digital communication, which is becoming increasingly attractive through video chat and telephone services.
Although there are still some hurdles for telemedicine due to the ban on distance treatment, in the digital age, too, borders are becoming more and more softened. In Baden-Wuerttemberg, for example , the ban on long-distance treatment ( more on this ) has already been overturned in order not only to facilitate consultative discussions with the doctor, but also treatment via telephone or online platform. Gregor Börner believes that the legal developmentin Germany will move a little faster in the future than it has done so far. Not least because patients such as doctors, providers, etc. can benefit equally. The faster and more the law adapts to the digital possibilities (and the everyday life), taking data and patient protection into consideration, the more varied the patient care can be.
The electronic patient file
The electronic health card has been planned for several years. The concept of the health card is simple: all important information about the patient (treatments, findings and patient data) is stored on the card (or in a central database for which the card of access codes) and instead of the classic card with each visit to the doctor Practice synchronized.
Gregor Börner explains: "What is the promise of the eGK or EHR?
Prevention of double diagnoses (including the burden on the patient, for example, if one knee is X-rayed twice)
Emergency pass (information on allergies, contact persons and current medication in case of emergency)
Drug interactions
Basis for integrated care (jointly by various service providers such as in oncology: pharmacy, oncologist, nursing, hospital, etc.) "
In this way it can be avoided that the patient has to refer to his entire medical history during any care, support or medical treatment or that the communication and the exchange of information between health insurance companies and doctors is incomplete. Errors, wrong medication or double treatments can be avoided.
So far, however, the active implementation of digital medical records has been delayed considerably. Regarding the reasons, Gregor Börner says:
"Certainly one of the reasons for the delays was that a large number of involved and sometimes conflicting interests must be reconciled. One can only regret the fact that only a lowest common denominator has been found as a consensus for the time being, as it does not allow us to exploit the possibilities inherent in the idea of an electronic health card - especially for the patient. "
Wearables & the Internet of Things
In addition to the activity trackers, wearables and the Internet of Things offer possibilities far beyond measuring and analyzing steps / day. Some examples and opportunities for using and using wearables can be found on the Life Science blog.
For Gregor Börner, the innovation is not in new applications, but in the linking of different areas:
"Exciting is certainly the increasing networking, but still in its infancy: so far, the GPS tracker Runtastic was a silo for exercise, the health app Withings for Libra and Weight Watchers for the (right) diet. But Apple Health (the app) now provides a platform to bring this information together and also play back to the individual apps so that for the first time an overall picture is visible, without having to bind to a provider. This will most likely evolve, including standardization of data exchange across manufacturers. "
In addition, many wearables are currently still in the sports and hobby area. Again, Gregor Börner sees a development that is unavoidable:
"So far this is more of a health and sports fanatic (or for normal people to motivate themselves). But still lacking the link to medicine or medical use. Here I expect new ideas as soon as the interoperability, meaning the meaningful linkage of leisure and health is given. "
In this way it can be avoided that the patient has to refer to his entire medical history during any care, support or medical treatment or that the communication and the exchange of information between health insurance companies and doctors is incomplete. Errors, wrong medication or double treatments can be avoided.
So far, however, the active implementation of digital medical records has been delayed considerably. Regarding the reasons, Gregor Börner says:
"Certainly one of the reasons for the delays was that a large number of involved and sometimes conflicting interests must be reconciled. One can only regret the fact that only a lowest common denominator has been found as a consensus for the time being, as it does not allow us to exploit the possibilities inherent in the idea of an electronic health card - especially for the patient. "
Wearables & the Internet of Things
In addition to the activity trackers, wearables and the Internet of Things offer possibilities far beyond measuring and analyzing steps / day. Some examples and opportunities for using and using wearables can be found on the Life Science blog.
For Gregor Börner, the innovation is not in new applications, but in the linking of different areas:
"Exciting is certainly the increasing networking, but still in its infancy: so far, the GPS tracker Runtastic was a silo for exercise, the health app Withings for Libra and Weight Watchers for the (right) diet. But Apple Health (the app) now provides a platform to bring this information together and also play back to the individual apps so that for the first time an overall picture is visible, without having to bind to a provider. This will most likely evolve, including standardization of data exchange across manufacturers. "
In addition, many wearables are currently still in the sports and hobby area. Again, Gregor Börner sees a development that is unavoidable:
"So far this is more of a health and sports fanatic (or for normal people to motivate themselves). But still lacking the link to medicine or medical use. Here I expect new ideas as soon as the interoperability, meaning the meaningful linkage of leisure and health is given. "
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