The term “best practice” is used to indicate a tested process or action practically proven to be more effective than others when applied under specific conditions. Good practices offer tips, guidelines, techniques or methodologies whose implementation can lead to greater safety and reliability in a desired outcome. “Best Practices” in health constitutes seeking and applying methods and processes which ensure the best possible results in the least possible time at the least possible cost.
In the field of medicine, finding the most validated, suitable, effective and efficient method is neither obvious nor easy. It requires a process of constantly evaluating current scientific knowledge and ever-produced new scientific data. These concerns led to the development of a series of techniques aiming to find the best practice for each case with the best scientific validation in terms of effectiveness.
Indicative examples of best practices and e-Health system strategies used both in Greece and in Europe are provided below.
E-prescription in Public Hospitals
One of the most crucial reforms of our times in Health and Social Care affecting both public health and public finances is E-Prescription. This refers to the production, distribution and check of medicine prescriptions and referrals by using ITT in a way that ensures validity, safety and transparency of information. Out of all the doctors in the country’s 131 hospitals, 10,000 are already in the system and 2,500 have been certified. Out of the country’s 220 Health Centers, 3,000 doctors are in the system and 2,000 are certified. The aim is to connect E-Prescription with IT systems.
“DELOS”: District Health Network in the Cyclades (Phase A)
The project Creation of DELOS District Health Network in Cyclades (Phase A) pertains to the development and operational support of the Comprehensive ‘DELOS’ Information Health System for the A’ South Aegean Health District, under pilot operation since the summer of 2006. The project aims to use ITT towards upgrading the quality of services, re-organising internal processes and providing better services to the citizens.
As part of this project, remote Health Centers and District Clinics are connected to large hospitals (support units) as well as to the Shifts Coordination Center-National Health Operation Center. Each point is in communication with one or more others through “Syzefksis” network. Tele-diagnostic services are provides since medical data can be transferred from the patient to the support center. Also tele-consulting is available, as is tele-medicine for emergencies, tele-training for doctors, nurses and administration staff, even tele-psyciatry services.
Technological applications in healthcare through Vodafone network
The cooperation between Vodafone and Athens Medicine Center is certified by the Ministries of Health and Marine & the Aegean. The programme includes the National Inter-Municipal Network of Healthy Cities- Promotion of Health and Vidavo firm and makes the best possible use of technology to apply programmes supporting local communities and people.
In the 100 clinics participating in the Programme visitors can perform basic preventive medicine tests, such as cardiogram or spyrometry. The Programme also allows for the creation of a digital patient file in order for the GPs to have a better and more complete image of their patients’ health. Tele-Medicine Programme promotes preventive medicine while also caring for the chronically ill, as it allows for the systematic check of their health status at their area of residence breaking geographical or other boundaries.
Such an initiative is the Vodafone Tele-Medicine Programme, applied for the 13th consecutive year in 100 remote areas of continental and island Greece. The Tele-Medicine Programme supports GPs while also promoting preventive medicine. It contributes to illness prevention through timely diagnosis while also caring for the chronically ill, as it allows for the systematic check of their health status at their area of residence breaking geographical or other boundaries.
Germany: MedicalORDER Storage & Restocking System
The system was first introduced in St. Franziskus hospital in Munich in 2001. Today, about 90% of documentation and medicine is stored according to the standardized MedicalORDER system. This standardization of the hospitals’ supplies leads to easier and more cost-effective administrational organization while greatly reducing the cost of supplies as it allows for mass orders depending on the demand. Although the system is designed for the optimization of processes, patients are also benefitted. The time earned by nurses due to the less work they need to do on administration issues, such as checking the medicine storeroom and placing orders, is spent on patients in greater need of care.
Denmark: Danish Health Data Network-DHDN
The Danish Health Data Network (DHDN) developed by MedCom was introduced in 1994. It is a long-term plan allowing for the effective transfer of data among various healthcare departments, thereby enabling all people involved in healthcare to communicate more efficiently and reliably. It starts from the patient early care. It provides the citizens with numerous services such as access to pharmacies, hospital diagnostic services, specialized consult, hospital referrals and home care.
Sweden: SJUNET Healthcare Network
SJUNET is a broadband network based on IP network protocol supporting communication among healthcare providers. It was firstly introduced in 1998 as a local network in Upsala but soon evolved into the country’s National Healthcare Network. Today, all of Sweden’s hospitals, health centers and healthcare stations are connected in this network.
Technically, SJUNET operates independently from the internet thereby safeguarding the exchange / transmission of data, such as patients’ personal information. Most ITT applications of the SJUNET pertain to tele-medicine.
