Bringing together industry, governments, decision makers, stakeholders and representatives of the end-users from the EU and the US, the eHealth Week took place in Dublin (13-15 May 2013). Representing the nursing profession, the EFN attended it as part of the eHealth Stakeholders Group following in particular how the EU-US Memorandum of Understanding is being taken forward and how a major deployment of eHealth services can be enhanced.
eHealth services are acknowledged to be of support for a more accessible and efficient delivery of health and social care services. However, there is still a way to go as more evidence on the results is needed, particularly as regards its cost-effectiveness and patient empowerment component. The EFN is collaborating with key stakeholders to give evidence-based answers to some of these questions that remain open. These answers will provide an insight on aspects related to education, eSkills, use of ICT tools in prevention and integrated care, and ePrescribing, and will help guiding end-users and policy makers to make informed decisions and foster the implementation of eHealth services across Member States.
The EFN believes in the potential of eHealth when adequately introduced with the involvement of the end-users and is convinced that, as Neelie Kroes highlighted in the eHealth High Level Conference on 13 May, EU citizens will be able to enjoy effective eHealth services that will boost their self- management and promotion of health and well-being.
