Cross-Sector-Communication and Continuity of Care: Using Standards for an Integrative Health Environment

Abstract

European healthcare is changing The increased movement of the citizen asks for administrative changes, but also for patient records that can be accessed ubiquitously in real time and also across boarders. New technologies offer new approaches and possibilities. This paper outlines the changes of developments in the health sector brought upon by ICT. It demonstrates present initiatives towards European eHealth cross-border solutions regarding different levels of interoperability such as semantics, technical requirements, organisational and security related requirements. The project ByMedConnect is given as an example for implementing standardised solutions for overcoming limiting factors and ensuring an interoperable solution supporting continuity of care. Challenges on a future user-friendly European eHealth solution are discussed.