IP Communications

According to information published by ICT Results, the quality of medical care and service across the EU is soon expected to improve dramatically, thanks to the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) used by doctors and health facilities. The inclination towards ICT to further medical care in the EU is a positive sign that he EU investment into related research is finally yielding results. 

 

By relying on innovating communication technologies, surgeons or implant engineer, for instance, can easily call on the expertise of the best professionals in any field of orthopedic surgery, including the use of where biomechanical simulation, now available to offer new insights for patient care  

 

The EU wants to lead from the front and show the global medical community how it can improve medical services by using advanced information and communication technologies. A recent European Commission survey of information and communication technologies (ICT) take-up by the medical profession found that 87 percent of Europe’s general practitioners are using a computer, and just under half are using a broadband connection.

 

The survey also provided statistics showing the use of electronic services in healthcare —e-Health — is making administration more efficient and cutting down patient waiting times.

 

“Europe is starting to reap the benefits of broadband connections in the e-health sector,” said EU Commissioner for Information Society and Media, Viviane Reding. “This diagnosis also shows that it is now time to use these electronic services much more widely, as they have the potential to bring extraordinary benefits to all patients, all over Europe.”

 

The survey provided interesting statistics, showing that some 70 percent of European doctors use the Internet and 66 percent use computers for consultations. Administrative patient data is electronically stored in 80 percent of general practices, while 92 percent also electronically store medical data on diagnoses and medication.

 

However, technology for monitoring patients remotely — telemonitoring — is currently being used only by doctors in the Netherlands, Sweden, and Iceland, and even these countries rely on it sparingly. 

 

European researchers are currently focusing on providing information and techniques to help more doctors incorporate ICT as part of their provision of patient health care. With these statistics and new focus on ICT research, it won’t be long before the EU medical community realizes the benefits that ICT offers its profession and embraces these new techniques to help patient care and provide new e-health facilities.