E-Health Technology for Detecting and Managing Chronic Disease

Abstract

The authors of this chapter present an overview of the health and economic challenges that healthcare infrastructures are experiencing and the growing concern of providing healthcare to increasing numbers of individuals age 60 and above. They also discuss how comprehensive disease management programs that combine e-health technology with community-based health and/or social services can support the long distance diagnosis and clinical monitoring of chronic disease states such as cardiovascular disease among communities with poor access to quality healthcare. By sharing lessons learned from their prior work and studies found in the literature, they discuss e-health projects that improve access to healthcare and disease management among homebound, chronically ill seniors by introducing mobile units to service rural communities in nontraditional settings (e.g., food pantries, soup kitchens, church-based services, and senior daycare programs). The authors demonstrate how today’s e-health systems can allow healthcare providers to screen, diagnosis, treat, and manage patients in the home or community-based delivery settings, reducing the need for costlier facilities and services, decreasing patient isolation (by increasing interactions with those who are homebound or live in remote regions) and increasing disease management and patient compliance. The authors argue that e-health technology must remain in the forefront of global thinking in order to better serve the health needs of an aging world population, reduce costs, and alleviate a dwindling healthcare workforce.