Swedish Ehealth

The Swedish eHealth reform agenda – The E-health Scenario in Sweden

Monica Winge

VINNOVA Sweden

Biggest challenge? To provide personalized services and adapt new technology AND content to individual needs!

Stakeholder involvement – only slowing the process down?  Starting-point:

◦ decentralized healthcare system with 21 regions and 290 municipalities. ◦ extensive knowledge and experience from decades of using eHealth solutions. ◦ different understanding of why eHealth solutions were not realizing its potential. ◦ no stakeholder alone can decide on which policies that should be applied.  Goal: ◦ build a strong foundation for implementation and deployment of eHealth solutions!  Task:

eHealth reform programme – the Swedish approach  Key

stakeholders involved in all parts of the process.  An open and transparent approach was chosen to establish the National Strategy for eHealth.  The result: ◦ a broad understanding and strong commitment to the need of addressing these issues in a new way. ◦ unique co-operation between all stakeholders in healthcare established for the first time. ◦ eHealth now seen in a larger healthcare

Defining a common agenda for all stakeholders in healthcare Six Action Areas identified: National govern ment Health care regions

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Bringing laws and regulations into line with an increased use of ICT.

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Information structure and terminology.

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Enhance the technical infrastructure.

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Facilitating interoperable, supportive ICT systems.

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Facilitating access to information across organisational boundaries.

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Launching new e-services for citizens.

Key success factors: Strong

political support is crucial! Recognize eHealth investments as a long term undertaking to improve healthcare! Clear definition of roles and responsibilities between national and regional level! Work must be carried out coordinated and in parallel towards the same goal at all levels! Inclusion of stakeholders vital!

Two year later…

The

consultation process resulted in:

◦ a broad understanding and commitment to the need of addressing these issues together. ◦ unique co-operation between all stakeholders in healthcare established for the first time. ◦ eHealth now seen in a larger political context ◦ agreed agenda for eHealth investments and reforms.

Introducing the epSOS Project:

The next step – cross-boarder eHealth services in the European Union!  Provide

cross-boarder services that ensures a safe, secure and efficient medical treatment for citizens when working, studying or travelling across Europe.

 Focus

on services close to the patient: ◦ European Patient Summary ◦ ePrescribing across the EU

 Main

political objectives: ◦ support patient mobility throughout Europe ◦ ensure that patient safety is guaranteed ◦ increase efficiency and cost-effectiveness

New era of EU co-operation with epSOS

– Smart Open Services for European Patients Ground-breaking

political initiative in

healthcare! First step in a long-term ambition to provide better healthcare for the European Citizen! Building on existing knowledge and national eHealth services and strategies! Opportunity to quality assure, coordinate and

Cross-boarder eHealth services

– epSOS provides concrete benefits for the European citizen  Patient

Summary: ◦ Safe emergency treatment for the occasional visitor on holiday or attending a conference. ◦ Provide continuity of care for routine treatment for citizens living in one country and working in the other.

 ePrescribing:

◦ Medicine that is already prescribed in the home country will be available for dispense in another country. ◦ A healthcare provider can prescribe medicine to a visiting patient from another

Conclusions: eHealth

must be placed on the political agenda as the key enabler for healthcare reform!

Involving

key stakeholders is a necessity for sustainable eHealth investments!

Time

to change the eHealth paradigm: ◦ from technological project… ◦ to cultural change!

Further questions? VINNOVA [email protected] Contact person; Ministry of health and social affairs, Sweden [email protected] Download the National Strategy for eHealth at: www.sweden.gov.se/health