Abstract
This column aims to describe the characteristics of current cyberpsychology research in Europe. In particular, CyberEurope aims at describing the leading research groups and projects running on the other side of the Ocean.
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In the European Union (EU), two mechanisms are increasingly used to this end, putting governments' purchasing power to good use by pulling demand for innovation, creating a signaling effect, and facilitating the diffusion of innovations. Public Procurement for Innovation (PPI) is used in challenges that can be addressed by innovative solutions close to commercialization or already commercialized in small quantities, while Pre-Commercial Procurement (PCP) is favored when there are no existing near-to-the-market solutions and new R&D is needed.
Access to Electronic Patient Records Abroad
Traveling abroad for business or pleasure is a common and perhaps increasing feature of our modern lives. But as our international travel increases, so does the need for healthcare when abroad.
The DECIPHER project (Distributed European Community Individual Patient Healthcare Electronic Record;
“The DECIPHER health application will help patients in various situations ranging from acute care episodes to the management of chronic diseases,” says Rossana Alessandrello of the Catalan Agency of Health Quality and Assessment, DECIPHER Project Coordinator.
If a patient becomes acutely ill when abroad, the project's mobile application would allow caregivers to access the essential health history of the patient. “This data can even be lifesaving in the event of urgent cases such as a stroke or heart attack,” Alessandrello adds.
Access to health data when in another EU country is especially important for individuals with chronic diseases needing frequent medical attention, such as diabetes, since it can contain data on medication and vaccinations.
The application being developed by the project will securely identify the user, archive and retrieve data created by patients' home-based healthcare providers or while patients are abroad. It will allow different healthcare providers to share information. Crucially, it will also translate patient records when interaction with foreign healthcare providers is required.
Pre-commercial Procurement
To achieve its vision, DECIPHER is using innovative pre-commercial procurement methods. “This works by pooling the efforts of several public procurers in procuring R&D services so that they can then access new products and services,” explains Alessandrello. “By sharing risks and benefits with suppliers, the best conditions for a wide commercialisation and take-up of R&D results is created,” she adds.
Currently, electronic health services are not widespread across the EU. There are some regional public health record initiatives, including Catalonia in Spain, Tuscany in Italy, and Manchester in the United Kingdom. However, patient take-up of mobile health records has been low.
“Ideally, the technologies developed by DECIPHER will be valid for all existing and future electronic patient record initiatives, using EU-wide and EU-recognised interoperability standards,” explains Alessandrello.
The project, which was completed in 2016, is now testing its technology with patients with type 2 diabetes. It is hoped that the solutions it will create will boost patient adherence to treatments, reduce the need for healthcare, and support the use of secure electronic patient health records.