There is now a general consensus in Chile about the importance of the use of Information and Communication Technologies in every sphere.
In the health sector, the incorporation of these tools seeks to optimize communication and information in people’s care and to improve healthcare management based on records in real time, without intermediaries, bearing in mind the new and increasing needs of the population.
Over the last decade there has been a major advance in the development of eHealth: the public sector in Chile is connected via the internet throughout the country. In addition, more than 25 thousand computers have been distributed and over eight million Electronic Health Records (EHR) are on line, as are support systems for clinical management, direction and interaction within care networks. Most importantly, there is human capital with effective experience that has made these notable achievements possible at a general level.
Challenges for the implementation of ICTs in Public Healthcare in Chile
The challenges for the application of Information and Communication Technologies in public health are dictated by the needs of the sector:
1. To improve management of initiatives.
2. To implement a policy to administer change and support.
3. To regulate and certify processes.
4. To exploit the data compiled by the EHRs and deliver that information to support healthcare policies and equitable distribution of resources.
5. To promote the empowerment and self-care of Chileans and their health.
6. To create a shared electronic health record.
7. To use new channels of contact and access to improve the allocation of appointments and monitor clinical treatment.
8. To increase the use of telemedicine at isolated care centers that don’t have specialist doctors on their staff.
9. To incorporate tools for logistical, financial and account administration at more complex health establishments.
As part of this process, many companies – including Saydex – have actively collaborated by making available tools that can help to meet these challenges. We need only look so far as the implementation of Records and Administration Systems for both Primary Care and Hospitals, which has allowed coverage of over eight million people with online EHRs.
eHealth in Chile: in what areas has progress been made?
During 2014 new tools have been developed to provide practical support for progress in meeting the demands of the sector. For example, platforms that, via mobile technology, deliver real time information about what is happening at Care Centers so that the administrators of healthcare establishments know how many beds are available and the average waiting or treatment time for each patient. These tools seek to make a direct impact on clinical management as they aid successful decision making at the moment the situation occurs.
In addition, in Chile progress is being made with the concept of democratization of health information, with tools that deliver – via the web – useful information to each person depending on their health profile. This information, based on care records, provides advice and data about self-care, nutrition and treatment of pathologies as well as appointments, check-ups, vaccines and medications in use.
Understanding that there are many challenges ahead in this area, today we have a ‘base line’ for Digital Strategy in Healthcare that will allow us to take a leap in quality and implementation.
The technology, professionals and experience are available, as are the economic resources for investment, with a high return of social and economic benefits. In fact the existing human capital allows us to create a vision that is both optimal and viable, supporting the operational continuity of ICT initiatives already in progress and those we must undertake in the future.
