www.tanjent.co.uk

European Commission’s Information Society and Media Directorate General’s

eHealth IMPACT (eHI) study “eHealth is Worth It”

www.ehealth-impact.org

In her foreword, the European Commissioner for Information Society and Media, Viviane Reding, said that healthcare is one of the most information-intensive sectors of European economies and can greatly profit from advances in IT.  This study shows clear evidence of the benefits of ICT in routine healthcare settings.  The full potential of IT systems to healthcare institutions has seldom been fully realised.  The eHI study addressed these shortcomings by exemplifying good practice, developing a generic evaluation framework, and applying the tools to ten sites across Europe.  The study identified the quantitative and qualitative impacts of eHealth, producing valuable empirical evidence of eHealth benefits for healthcare systems and services, and enabling informed eHealth decisions in the future.  

The benefits of improved access, quality, and cost-effectiveness to Health Provider Organisations (HPOs), citizens, and third party payers were measured using Cost BenefitAnalysis (CBA) as a foundation for the eHI methodology.  Investigating different outcomes through common measures allows for comparative and individual evaluation.  A robust economic assessment over time is produced, as opposed to precise, undisputable numbers at points in time. Costs and benefits were assessed for their impact on citizens and other stakeholders.  While the eHI methodology is deliberately flexible and is tailored to each site, common themes do exist, and data were collected in these settings, including identifying the scope of the eHealth application, defining the relevant eHealth service and estimating costs and benefits.  The ten cases were Institut Curie, France; AOK Rhineland, Germany; Apoteket & Stockholm County Council, Sweden; Bucharest Ambulance Service; IZIP, Czech Republic; Kind en Gezin, Flanders; MedCom, Denmark; MOC, Germany; NHS Direct,UK, and Solleftea & Boras hospitals, Sweden.  Details of the case studies are available at www.ehealth-impact.org. 

They all showed a positive impact.  Benefits were realised shortly after implementing the eHealth solution.  HPOs were the main beneficiaries with 52% of the benefits, with citizens at 43%.  Third party payers benefited on a small scale. Where the benefits were realised more slowly, it was because the eHealth scheme was more complex, or rolled out gradually. 

The qualitative benefits were better informed patients and carers, better focused information allowing for more streamlined procedures, improved timeliness, improvements in safety, better effectiveness, improved access to information and greater efficiency.  Timeliness, effectiveness and efficiency were prevalent at all ten sites.  Informed patients and carers were prevalent at only two, and where they were it was a focus of the eHealth project. When all ten cases are presented as one virtual health economy, the results are economically persuasive.  The present value of annual benefits grew from €20m in 1994 to €200m in 2004, before swelling to a forecasted €400m in 2008.  Associated costs remained stable. These combined results serve as a model to demonstrate the overall benefits of effective eHealth projects.  ICT alone will never bring about change without substantial changes to clinical and working practices, and the findings of the eHI study highlight some important policy and management recommendations. The study proves the substantial economic impact and benefits of well implemented eHealth applications, so the challenge for healthcare systems is to implement the right eHealth solutions, supported with effective change management.  By setting short term goals and by taking a pragmatic approach, the flexible eHealth dynamic remains responsive to practical necessities.  The eHI methodology can be used to identify and realise the advantages of eHealth, and to secure the finances for investment,which must run parallel to, or in place of, other mid to long-term investment opportunities.  The eHI study also found that effective clinical leadership and a multi-disciplinary skill set is necessary for success when addressing planning, implementation, and operational issues.  This balanced approach, when coupled with improved integration and better communication with stakeholders and decision makers, allowed for better informed suggestions for change, which were assessed more seriously.  This study provides an excellent framework for research, but it also provides the basis for eHealth investment decisions that will affect the healthcare system as a whole.

The eHI study was completed by empirica and its partners, inlcudingTanJent   

This précis is from  a study on the Economic Impact of eHealth, available  at www.ehealth-impact.org, and  commissioned by the European Commission, Directorate General Information Society and Media, Brussels. This précis reflects solely the views of its authors. The European Community is not liable for any use that may be made of the information contained therein.

 www.europa.eu.int/information_society/activities/health/docs/publications/ehealthimpactsept2006.pdf