Health Economics and Management Framework Based on Chongqing Regional Health Information Platform

Summary Objectives: To analyze utilization of sensor technology in telemonitoring and home care and to discuss concepts and challenges of sensor-enhanced regional health information systems (rHIS). Methods: The study is based upon experience in sensor-based telemedicine and rHIS projects, and on an analysis of HIS-related journal publications from 2003 to 2005 conducted in the context of publishing the IMIA Yearbook of Medical Informatics. Results: Health-related parameters that are subject to sensor-based measurement in home care and tele-monitoring are identified. Publications related to tele-monitoring, home care and smart houses are analyzed concerning scope and utilization of sensor technology. Current approaches for integrating sensor technology in rHIS based on a corresponding eHealth infrastructure are identified. Based on a coarse architecture of home care and telemonitoring systems ten challenges for sensor-enhanced rHIS are identified and discussed: integration of home and health telematic platforms towards a sensor-enhanced telematic platform, transmission rate guarantees, ad hoc connectivity, cascading data analysis, remote configuration, message and alert logistic, sophisticated user interfaces, unobtrusiveness, data safety and security, and electronic health record integration. Conclusions: Utilization of sensor technology in health care is an active field of research. Currently few research projects and standardization initiatives focus on general architectural considerations towards suitable telematic platforms for establishing sensor-enhanced rHIS. Further research finalized by corresponding standardization is needed. Part 2 of this paperwill present experiences with a research prototype for a sensor-enhanced rHIS telematic platform.

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Developing a Public Key Infrastructure for a Secure Regional e-Health Environment

Methods of Information in Medicine ◽

10.1055/s-0038-1634371 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 41 (05) ◽

pp. 414-418 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

I. Mavridis ◽

C. Ilioudis ◽

C. Georgiadis ◽

G. Pangalos

Keyword(s):

Health Information ◽

Low Cost ◽

Public Key Cryptography ◽

Public Key Infrastructure ◽

University Hospital ◽

Public Key ◽

The Internet ◽

Regional Health ◽

Internet Applications ◽

Regional Health Care

Summary Objectives: Internet technologies provide an attractive infrastructure for efficient and low cost communications in regional health information networks. The advantages provided by the Internet come however with a significantly greater element of risk to the confidentiality and integrity of information. This is because the Internet has been designed primarily to optimize information sharing and interoperability, not security. The main objective of this paper is to propose the exploitation of public-key cryptography techniques to provide adequate security to enable secure healthcare Internet applications. Methods: Public-key cryptography techniques can provide the needed security infrastructure in regional health networks. In the regional health-care security framework presented in this paper, we propose the use of state-of-art Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) technology. Such an e-Health PKI consists of regional certification authorities that are implemented within the central hospitals of each region and provide their services to the rest of the healthcare establishments of the same region. Results: Significant experience in this area has been gained from the implementation of the PKI@AUTH project. Conclusions: The developed PKI infrastructure already successfully provides its security services to the AHEPA university hospital. The same infrastructure is designed to easily support a number of hospitals participating in a regional health information network.

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