The Digitization of Healthcare : New Challenges and Opportunities

476 Pages·2017·11.98 MB·English

by  Audrain-Pontevia

The Digitization of Healthcare
Loick Menvielle (cid:129) Anne-Françoise
Audrain-Pontevia (cid:129) William Menvielle
Editors
The Digitization
of Healthcare
New Challenges and Opportunities
Editors
LoickMenvielle Anne-FrançoiseAudrain-Pontevia
EDHECBusinessSchool UniversitéduQuébecàMontréal
NiceCedex,France Montréal,Canada
WilliamMenvielle
UniversitéduQuébecàTrois-Rivières
TroisRivières,Canada
ISBN978-1-349-95172-7 ISBN978-1-349-95173-4(eBook)
DOI10.1057/978-1-349-95173-4
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For Annick Braley and Elyane Leclerc-Braley
Preface
When digital is revolutionizing medical practices!
fi
IT has in ltrated the health sector and it is now beginning to have a
fl
growing in uence on both doctors and patients. More than a passing
trend, the health sector is undergoing a revolution which could change
the way doctors and patients relate. While some companies may be
fi
adopting these changes for their own bene ts, the digital revolution
could be extremely positive for all of us.
Today,theeHealthmarketisworthmorethanUS$250billion,with
an encouraging prospect of between 10 and 25% growth according to
PwC (2015). Some medical actors see this emerging market as a con-
sequence of new uses of technologies. eHealth is seen as a solution to
care access issues, but not only this. It will give patients with chronic
diseases the possibility to manage their illness. For healthy individuals,
eHealthcanprovideapreventiveapproach,especiallywithself-monitor-
ing apps, which are arousing more and more interest from Google,
Apple, Facebook, Amazon (GAFAs).
ffi
First studies and projects comparing the economic e ciency of con-
fi
ventional health models to the connected health model tend to nd in
favorofthelatter. Forexample,in theMein Herzstudy(FrenchHealth
Ministry, 2014), savings are substantial, costs related to patient hospi-
talizationarereducedbyalmost50%,andtheoverallcostofsupportfor
patients is reduced by 25%. Furthermore, the connected health model
vii
viii Preface
has a strong impact on hospital resources, particularly concerning med-
ff
ical sta whose number could be reduced by up to 25%. Connected
ff ’
health has also shown its e ectiveness in reducing patients readmission
fi
rate, by a signi cant 40% of the average length of hospitalization per
patient. It seems that the connected health model could fundamentally
change the process of delivering healthcare. The savings could improve
other aspects of the health system both in Western and emerging
countries.
The substantial savings generated by this new approach could con-
fi
tribute directly or indirectly to nd answers to current questions of
many countries both in Western and emerging countries.
WHO has put eHealth at the heart of their strategic plan? Given the
way people use IT, mhealth is in a good position, particularly in
emerging countries, to play an important role in delivering access to
care and diagnosing sickness earlier. It can also be used to verify the
—
origin of medication just by sending an SMS or using a QR code
especiallyusefulfortheAfricancontinentwherefakedrugsarecausinga
lot of deaths.
We are faced with major challenges, but the outlook is mainly
positive.However,connectedhealthtechnologymustinnowaydevalue
the relationship between healthcare providers and patients. On the
contrary, it should be used to support this relationship, promoting the
well-being of the sick while facilitating the process of caregiving.
The number ofhealth apps developedfor smart phones areestimated
at more than 100,000. But, in addition to these virtual apps, there are
devices that also exist using Web 2.0 to improve the lives of people who
ff
su er, more or less, from unpleasant diseases. Three researchers inter-
ff
ested in health marketing o er an overview of some major innovations
that could enhance everyday life in the near future, while also mention-
ing limits or precautions for using some of them.
These are the themes and data presented in this work. Moreover, we
examine a little deeper some certain realities that surround us or that
alreadyexistduringthecourseofourlives,whetherweareapatientwho
isawareofhis/herhealthoraprofessionalinthemedicalworld.Asmany
concernsareraised,wenowshouldcarryoutareviewtopresentanswers
to a few major legitimate questions that people ask:
Preface ix
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How can we de ne eHealth or connected health?
fi
It is the application of information technology to the health eld,
from medical records to telemedicine, and also mhealth with the devel-
opment of connected objects. Nowadays, it is already a reality and a
growing sector. Throughout the world, one Internet user out of two
(almost 1.5 billion people) already uses a health app, and it has certain
consequences. The research we conduct in partnership with two uni-
versities in Canada shows the changes in the relationship between
patients and caregivers; this relationship has been enhanced through
information exchange. Similarly, patient groups help the sick to renew
ff
broken social bonds that were a ected by disease.
Is connected health a major economic issue as well?
Weusedtosaythathealthispriceless,butitdoeshaveacost.Itisestimated
that health spending will be multiplied by three by 2050 only for chronic
fi
care.Populationagingwillalsoresultinasigni cantincreaseinexpenditure.
Consideringonlychronicdiseases(cancer,diabetes,etc.),itrepresentsnearly
¾ofcurrenthealthexpenditures.Tofullyweighupeconomicissuesrelated
to chronic diseases, by 2030 there will be nearly 500 million people with
diabetesworldwide,whichwillrepresenttheequivalentofUS$680billionin
...
healthcare expenditures In this context, how to ensure a sustainable
model,andtheaccesstouniversalhealthcareaswell?Howtotreatpatients
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e ectively at a lower cost? eHealth provides answers both in Western and
emerging countries, and it is necessary to consider this issue very seriously;
fi fi
hence,thisis rstoutstandingconferenceinthis eld.
How eHealth can contribute to reducing costs?
Bypromotingpreventionandabettermonitoringofpatients.Wecan
readily understand it in developed countries where it is very easy to
promote connected health incursion via the Internet. Regarding devel-
oping countries, this connected health issue is critical. In Africa and in
India, telediagnosis is developing through mobile phones, which is
widely used. It is possible, for instance, to perform remotely vision
tests from a simple smart phone. Likewise, we can struggle against
counterfeiting which kills thousands of people all over the world by
controlling drug selection through cell phones. eHealth also ensures
ff
better monitoring of prescriptions and thus increase the e ectiveness
of treatments.
x Preface
Is there any misgivings from patients regarding the development of
eHealth to potential intrusion in their private lives?
Generally, patients are quite positive about eHealth, often because it
makes that easier for them and it contributes to their well-being, but we
fi
must admit that con dence related to personal data is a crucial issue.
However, for certain chronic illnesses, technical developments take pre-
’
cedence over individuals concerns. Nowadays, diabetics have simple-to-
use tools to monitor their blood sugar level. In Japan there are already
manyrobots,andtheyarewellconsidered;itisthecaseofParothatlooks
ffi
like a plush baby harp and that e ciently stimulates people with
’
Alzheimers disease. eHealth also contributes to keeping the elderly at
homebecauseofapartmentsequippedwithsensorsandhumanoidrobots
thatprovidemonitoringandsecurity,suchagreatexpectationfromthem.
Is eHealth revolution still at its beginning?
fi
Medical robotics and telesurgery are experiencing a signi cant devel-
fi “ ”
opment. The rst remote surgery, called Lindbergh operation, was
’
successfully performed in 2001 by the Professor Jacques Marescauxs
surgical team located in New York on a patient being hospitalized in
Strasbourg. Frenchmen potential does exist and it is very encouraging
particularly at a time when we sometimes face weak economic
...
conditions InstituteofChemicalTechnology(ICT)iscreatingvalues
and will help create new technologies related to healthcare, but do not
worry, sick people will always remain a priority in the relation with
caregivers.
This book is written to a wide audience that has a common interest,
and it is to be informed on health matters and ICT.
(cid:129)
It will please the computer scientist that will see a potential develop-
ment of new apps for smart phones, to better help the care consumer
to be aware of his own body.
(cid:129)
It will help the legislator to make better guidelines in regulating
online medical practices by contributing to law, directives, and
standards.
(cid:129)
It will allow the ethicist to better appreciate what users do with
medical data and also with health information provided by Internet
users that consult forums or online communities.
Preface xi
(cid:129)
It willhelpthe sick persontobetter understand its rights,its involve-
ment in this complicated and changing medical world, and will help
him understand how data may be used.
(cid:129)
It will provide some guidance to general practitioners and medical
“ ” fi
specialists by showcasing best practices in the online medical eld.
(cid:129)
Finally,thisbookwillhelpeverykindofpersonthatiscuriousaswell
fi
to nd out more about connected health.
Overview of the content
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This book that is about eHealth is cut up into ve major parts, each
covering a major theme and combining many chapters.
Part I contains four original contributions. Chapter 1 invites us to
view an online healthcare market presentation by mainly presenting
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concepts that de ne this new paradigm. After having explained the
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situation, the author also speci ed new challenges that must be taken
into account and possibly be overcome by eHealth system. The author
describesinanoriginalwaychallengesthathealthcaremustfocusonand
ff
puts into perspective challenges that have a ected art world because of
Cubism, which became a revolutionary approach.
fl
Chapter 2 makes us re ect on mobile health and health platformiza-
tion (mhealth). Through the tool they always have on hand, that is to
say smart phone, consumers instantly search information on their apps
in a preventive and proactive way, giving them an additional sense of
control on illness and a new role within the health system. In this new
economic reality relying on demand, the authors show how mobile
health recreate our healthcare system, which is creating value.
Chapter 3 shows that at the moment digital apps are in full bloom
and at the moment of telemedicine, the economic model of the tradi-
tional health system (funded by public or private insurances) cannot
fi
ensure its ful llment. The author therefore has questions regarding
fi
which model is most operational and viable to nance its achievements
fi
and consider the idea of an independent nancing.
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Chapter 4 deals with eHealth from another nancial point of
view. This contribution tends to show that the traditional funding