Health Information Technology: Empowering Consumers, Patients, and Caregivers

Mary Jo Deering

doi:10.3390/isis-summit-vienna-2015-i006

Abstract

Health Information Technology: Empowering Consumers, Patients, and Caregivers

Highlights

In health care, knowledge and authority have rested with medical professionals and care was delivered in professional settings
Technologies with shared control, such as patient portals, allow consumers, patients, and caregivers to determine their level of participation, but the types of information allowed, the rules for initiating and terminating use, as well as information sharing, are set by the organization providing the portal [2]
Patients value Health information technology (HIT) tools that make it easier to participate in their care

Summary

Extended Abstract

In health care, knowledge and authority have rested with medical professionals and care was delivered in professional settings. Individuals have been considered solely as “patients,” i.e. defined by their relationship to doctors. Health information technology (HIT) is enabling consumers (i.e. an individual outside of a patient context), patients, and family caregivers to more fully understand health and illness, to self-manage health and illness at home when feasible, and to partner with their medical providers when necessary. There is the potential for a re-balancing of the power relationship between doctors and patients toward greater collaboration (including family caregivers), and increased attention to contexts of daily life in which “health happens.”. The available technologies and their actual implementation are currently insufficient to empower consumers, patients and caregivers to fulfill their new responsibilities There is the potential for a re-balancing of the power relationship between doctors and patients toward greater collaboration (including family caregivers), and increased attention to contexts of daily life in which “health happens.” the available technologies and their actual implementation are currently insufficient to empower consumers, patients and caregivers to fulfill their new responsibilities

Key Health Information Technologies

Problems with HIT

Conclusions