E-Health Standards - Austria Case Study

• Author: Luise Brosser - Catalin Vrabie
• Position: Student, National University of Political Studies and Public Administration (SNSPA) - Faculty of Public Administration - Assistant Professor, PhD, National University of Political Studies and Public Administration (SNSPA) - Faculty of Public Administration
• Pages: 277-283

Interdisciplinary Dimension of Communication Science

277

E-Health Standards – Austria Case Study

Luise Brosser

1, Ctlin I. Vrabie2

Abstract: Today information systems for d igital documentation and communication are used by many actors

within their area of activity. However, an integrated care requires a multi-agency standardized

communication in which the individual patient plays the main part. As already made investments in ICT

numerous health facilities, it is urgently necessary to make rapid appropriate requirements to ensure that long-

term system interoperability is guaranteed. The e-Health strategy aims to support the accuracy of decisions on

future investments in ICT. Objectives: The purpose of th is article is to provide an example o f an e-health

system from a European country. Approach This article shows the initiative of Austria to implement e-health

being consistent with initiatives und ertaken at EU level - eEurope 2005, eEurope +, i2010 by adhering to the

principles of interoperability, interactivity pub lic services, trust, security, privacy Results: The

implementation of e-health is primaril y seen as a project for the long-term organizational development and

modernization of health care. The legal, organizational, technical and content aspects of the e-health strategy

provide the basics for this development. The represents, shown in the appendix e -Health strategies of

countries and organizations must be coordinated with the Austria-wide strategy.

Keywords: e-gov; electronic; digital

1. Introduction

The innovation, the development, the quality and the efficiency of the Austrian health system can be

greatly enriched by the information and communication technology (ICT). Optimal treatment and

support for inter-institutional treatment processes depends very largely on the „in time availability” of

relevant and appropriate data, information and knowledge. The health care system of the future uses

the ICT in an optimal manner for documentation, communication, storage, and processing of health-

related data. The Austrian e-health strategy is the basis concept, in making the potential of ICT for

citizens, health care providers, decision makers and payers in terms of quality and efficiency available.

The Austrian health care system is defined by a high fragmentation of the offered services and the

financing. There becomes therefore a great need for a patient-related communication between the

different actors of the health care system to achieve better cooperation and thus higher efficiency. One

of the fundamental quality problems of today‟s medical care system is not so much the medicine itself,

but the organization of the treatment processes, communication and cooperation between the actors

involved and the integration of the citizen. Integrated supply, case and disease management requires a

comprehensive application of information and communication technology and the interoperability of

1Student, National University of Political Studies and Public Administration (SNSPA) - Faculty of Public Administration,

Address: 6 Povernei str., Sector 1, Bucharest 010643, Romania, Corresponding author: brosserluise@yahoo.com.

2 Assistant Professor, PhD, National University of Political Studies and Public Administration (SNSPA) - Faculty of Public

Administration, Address: 6 Povernei str., Sector 1, Bucharest 010643, Romania, E-mail: cataloi@yahoo.com.