Informatics 9: Consumer Health Informatics

Question 1

Consumer health informatics: learning objectives

Answer 1

• Identify the origin of consumer health informatics
• Identify and discuss consumer health informatics (CHI) tools
• Discuss the features and formats of personal health records
• Identify electronic tools for patient to physician communication
• Outline barriers to CHI adoption
• Discuss the future of consumer health informatics

Question 2

CHI interrelationships

Answer 2

• devices
• voice
• SMS
• email
• applications
• smart phones
• EHRs
• something a consumer uses

Question 3

alexa or google home

Answer 3

• can be used in a health care setting

- set reminders

Question 4

trends

Answer 4

• availability of internet
• research tool for conditions- google treatments
• chronic diseases- concurrent chronic illnesses

Question 5

patient protection and affordable care act (2010)

Answer 5

• individual mandate- all to maintain health insurance
• employer mandate- all employer with 50 or more employees to offer health insurance
• wellness programs

Question 6

e-Health

Answer 6

• consumers to interact directly with the healthcare system online
• improved possibilities for institution to institution transmissions of data
• new possibilities for peer-to-peer communication among patients, caregivers and consumers
• telehealth
• patient portal
• e prescriptions
• CHI born in 2001:
• any electronic tool, technology or electronic application that is designed to interact directly with consumers, with or without the presence of a healthcare professional that provides or uses individualized (personal) information and provides the consumer with individualized assistance to help the patient better manage their health or health care

Question 7

medicaid

Answer 7

• people are embarrassed to have it

- have to offer it

Question 8

classification of CHI applications

Answer 8

• 43,689 health apps available in iTunes apple store (research topic alert!)
• mobile apps
• health information oriented websites
• interactive health games
• sensor based tracking systems
• health oriented social media
• virtual reality programs

Question 9

home telemedicine devices

Answer 9

• remote delivery of care
• digital scales and blood pressure monitors display on smartphone and via WiFi to a web server for others to view and analyze
• you are administering you own care and charged the same amount

Question 10

patient web portals

Answer 10

• web based programs for patients to access health related services
• patients to receive summaries, lab results, etc. compatible with meaningful use goals
• clarify doctor instructions
• prevent medical mistakes
• change the way patients managed their health improve the quality of care

Question 11

personal health records (PHRs)

Answer 11

• an electronic, universally available, lifelong resource of health information needed by individuals to make health decisions
• portable
• interoperable
• auto-populated with clinical and test results
• controlled by the patients
• longitudinal record and not just a snapshot
• private and secure
• integrated into the clinicians workflow and not be a separate process (ex. microsoft healthvault and world medical card)
• voluntary driven by patients
• sustainable?

Question 12

electronic patients- physician communication

Answer 12

• email to request prescription, booking appointments and for non-urgent clinical consultation
• electronic visits- better security and privacy
• telephonic visits (teladoc)
• after hours answering service (ringadoc)
• audio-video televisits (american well)
• coordinated with insurance company

Question 13

pros and cons of electronic patient- physician communication

Answer 13

• pros:
• timely and low cost delivery of information
• convenience
• email addresses usually stay constant when an address or telephone number changes
• improve access for non-urgent and simple enquiries
• cons:
• privacy, confidentiality
• increase provider workload
• quick patient response expectations
• lack of information security

Question 14

social media

Answer 14

• web 1.0:
• first generation of the internet
• unidirectional information
• web 2.0:
• interaction
• allows user to add information

Question 15

conclusion

Answer 15

• patient portals, HER platforms, blogs, video chat, and “tweets” wont substitute for many one on one encounter with providers, but will allow for richer engagement and deeper doctor patient relationships
• barriers- privacy, limited literacy and knowledge, language hurdles, cultural issues, and lack technologic skills