EHRxF for the Health System
EHRxF for the Health System
Health System
The health system perspective relates to governments and regulators that have responsibility for the operation of health services in a specific jurisdiction, as well as the healthcare provider organisations that deliver healthcare within that jurisdiction. Health outcomes of the population covered reflect the quality of the health system. In that sense, the health system is the provider of services, while the health workforce and citizens are the co-producers of health and the customers or beneficiaries, respectively. Policy makers need to make sure the system is sustainable, and both the workforce and the citizens are satisfied with the health services delivered. Within the health system, depending on its particular organisation, healthcare provider organisations are the ones that buy, implement, and operate the EHR systems that the workforce in their organisation uses on a day-to-day basis. The health system is also responsible for providing the citizens with access to their personal electronic health data, as well as to share their information using the EHR exchange format.
Scenario 1: Using the European EHRxF as a tool
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the challenges of interoperability but also showcased the potential of data sharing, prompting the EU to prioritise interoperability, exemplified by the successful EU Digital COVID Certificate initiative. Despite sophisticated national healthcare systems, differences in language, regulation, and protocols still hinder digital health integration. The European EHRxF is meant to address these issues. A sudden outbreak of Escherichia coli (E. coli) in several EU Member States in which a widely imported food product is expected has been identified. There is a need to share laboratory data with the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), and other EU-level actors. Laboratory reports needed to be quickly accessed and evaluated across Member States to identify the potential source, and progression of this public health threat.
Scenario 2: New approach in the combat of antimicrobial resistance
In response to the growing challenge of bacterial resistance, a new approach has been proposed to study antibiotic usage in Belgium. Specifically patient adherence to antibiotic prescriptions over the past two years, including the handling of leftover medication and the role of laboratory reports in prescribing antibiotics. Previous efforts have been hindered by the lack of a standardized data format and lack of smart consent mechanisms. However, the European EHRxF framework creates interoperability for laboratory reports, prescriptions and dispensations. Furthermore, Personal Health Records (PHRs) systems may also include data from wearables (such as smart watches) and data provided by the citizen himself. The PHR may thus create bridges between primary and secondary uses of data. This enables automatic matching with relevant consultations, streamlining data collection for studies enhancing public health research. Citizens may dynamically interact with researchers, ensuring efficient, accurate, and secure data gathering while maintaining privacy through anonymisation.