European Regions Lead Implementation of eHealth Solutions

The 2011 eHealth week conference, held during May 2011 in Budapest (Hungary) demonstrates that local European regions are the driving force behind implementing eHealth in Europe.

Researchers in the region of Auvergne (France) are developing an eHealth project to improve the management of diabetic patients. The project is based on decision support software for smart phones, featuring an insulin calculator and adaptor based on a patient's specific situation and behaviors. The data is transferred to nurses and doctors who can provide telemedicine care and manage phone consultations with their patients. Evaluations have shown a 30% reduction in diabetes-related complications and the total time for care has been dramatically reduced, with patients having to spend less time in hospital. The system will soon be expanded to include teleconsultation, where nurses should be able to take an image of a diabetic foot and send it to a doctor for evaluation.

"The patient provides data such as blood glucose value, food intake, etc., and after a few seconds he will receive an answer about how many units of insulin need to be taken," said Igor Tauveron, MD, of the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (Clermont-Ferrand, France) who presented the region's project at the eHealth "European Regions at the Forefront" symposia.

In another project, by researchers at Odense University Hospital (OUH; Denmark), in the region of Southern Denmark, eHealth is helping to manage patients with chronic heart disease, and atrial fibrillation in particular. The hospital has developed a home monitoring solution with wireless sensor technology called the electrocardiogram (ECG) ePatch. The device stores clinical events only; data is transmitted to cardiologists twice a day, allowing for real-time diagnoses, thus improving patient compliance. Hospital stays are expected to be reduced from 1-6 days to 0-1 days for patients with chronic heart disease (CHD).

"Southern Denmark's primary goal is to deliver prolonged and continuous care rather than acute and episodic care," said Anne Mette Ohlholm of the OUH department for research and health technology assessment. "And eHealth solutions are part of the strategy."

The eHealth Week 2011 conference wishes to offer an insight to European government into how to meet and prepare for substantial challenges over the next decade, such as significant demographic changes and reduced human resources. These changes are forcing European leaders to redesign the European healthcare landscape and invest in health systems of the future. The eHealth Week 2011 will also host an exhibition, which will showcase leading partners and industry partners, offering innovative solutions.

Related Links:
2011 eHealth week conference
Centre Hospitalier Universitaire
Odense University Hospital