22.11.11
Results of the Online-Survey “Challenges and Opportunities in Health Care in the Baltic Sea Region”
Between the beginning of June and the end of September 2011 the eHealth for Regions Network carried out an online-survey about the challenges and opportunities in the health care sector in the Baltic Sea Region in order to support the deployment of eHealth solutions.
42 participants from Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Lithuania, and Sweden took part in this survey. It consisted of nine questions: three on basic data and six questions on challenges and opportunities in the health care sector. 28 participants answered all nine questions. Therefore, the analyses included these 28 surveys.
As the biggest challenge in health care the demographic change was identified, followed by the cost increase. The greatest need for eHealth solutions is seen in cross-sectoral care, followed by living conditions and health situation of older people. The electronic health record is the most named eHealth solution for cross-sectoral, cross-border, and outpatient-care as well as for living conditions and health situation of the elderly. However, the main barrier of the deployment of eHealth solutions is the lack of cooperation between actors. Patients’ acceptance appears to be the smallest issue.
The eHealth for Regions Network will take these findings into account in order to deploy eHealth solutions more efficiently over the next few years within the Baltic Sea Region.