LEVERAGING TECHNOLOGY TO ENHANCE HEALTHCARE ACCESS: LESSONS FROM EUROPEAN LEADERS AND CHALLENGES IN BULGARIA
Keywords:
digital health initiatives, healthcare access, innovationAbstract
The article provides a comprehensive review of the utilization of digital health initiatives to enhance healthcare access. The research objectives focus mainly on the investigation of the benefits and challenges associated with the implementation of these solutions and assessing their impact on the healthcare systems. A systematic literature review was conducted, analyzing academic articles, reports, and studies on various digital health initiatives, such as telemedicine, mobile health applications, electronic health records, and remote patient monitoring. The main findings reveal that effective implementation of different digital health solutions has the potential to significantly improve healthcare access and quality. Benefits include improved access to healthcare services, enhanced efficiency and care coordination, advanced data analytics, cost savings, and opportunities for research and innovation. Countries at the forefront of digital health adoption have demonstrated remarkable advancements in healthcare delivery and patient outcomes. Addressing challenges related to data privacy, healthcare workforce education, and equitable access is crucial for maximizing the transformative potential of digital health initiatives. Continued investments, collaborations, and policy development are key to further advancing digital health globally.Downloads
References
American Medical Association, 2022. Remote patient monitoring playbook. p.8 Retrieved June 01, 2023, from https://www.ama-assn.org/system/files/ama-remote-patient-monitoring-playbook.pdf
Arvonen, S., 2020. Finland’s Digital Care Network: Why is it Working So Well? Health Management, v.20, Issue 1, pp.52-54 Retrieved June 03, 2023, from https://healthmanagement.org/uploads/article_attachment/hm1-v20-weblocked-final-sirpaarvonen-finland-sdigitalcarenetwork.pdf
Bertelsmann Stiftung, 2019. #SmartHealthSystems. International comparison of digital strategies. Summary. p.5 Retrieved May 30, 2023, from https://www.bertelsmann-stiftung.de/fileadmin/files/Projekte/Der_digitale_Patient/VV_SHS_Europe_eng.pdf
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Electronic Health Records. An official website of the United States government. Retrieved June 04, 2023, from https://www.cms.gov/medicare/e-health/ehealthrecords
Dimova, A., Rohova, M., Koeva, S., Atanasova, E., et al, 2022. Bulgaria: health system summary. European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies. World Health Organization. Regional Office for Europe. p.14 Retrieved June 04, 2022, from https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/365286
E-Estonia. Digital Healthcare. Retrieved June 01, 2023, from https://e-estonia.com/programme/digital-healthcare/
Gorchilova, D., Delcheva, E., 2015. Methodological Instruments for Public Services Quality Improvement. Economic Alternatives. Issue 2. University of National and World Economy p.47 Retrieved June 03, 2023, from https://www.unwe.bg/eajournal/en/journalissues/article/7767
International Trade Administration. U.S. Department of Commerce, 2022. Sweden Digital Healthcare Services Market Overview. Retrieved June 02, 2023, from https://www.trade.gov/market-intelligence/sweden-digital-healthcare-services-market-overview
OECD, 2022. Towards an Integrated Health Information System in the Netherlands. OECD Publishing. Paris. p.24 Retrieved June 03, 2023, from https://doi.org/10.1787/a1568975-en
Republic of Bulgaria. Ministry of Health. National Health Information System. Information about the system. [in Bulgarian] https://his.bg/bg/about (Република България. Министерство на здравеопазването. Национална здравна информационна система. Информация за системата)
SimilarWeb, 2023. Top Ranking Medical Apps for iPhone in App Store in Sweden. Retrieved June 03, 2023, from https://www.similarweb.com/apps/top/apple/store-rank/se/medical/top-free/iphone/
United Nations. OHCHR and the right to health. Retrieved June 02, 2023, from https://www.ohchr.org/en/health
Valkov, A., Stancheva, L., 2021. Health care quality measures: integrated approach. Knowledge – International Journal Vo.46. No.5 pp.823-834 [in Bulgarian] Retrieved June 01, 2023, from https://ikm.mk/ojs/index.php/kij/article/view/96
Veleva, R., 2022. Tsenata na zdraveto v Bulgaria: spodeleni otgovornosti i parichni pototsi. Ikonomicheski i socialni alternativi vol.4/2022 [in Bulgarian] Retrieved June 01, 2023, from https://doi.org/10.37075/ISA.2022.4.04 (Велева, Р., 2022. Цената на здравето в България: споделени отговорности и парични потоци. Икономически и социални алтернативи. Брой 4/2022. София. ИК-УНСС, ISSN: 1314 – 6556. с.42)
WHO Global Observatory for eHealth, 2011. mHealth: new horizons for health through mobile technologies: second global survey on eHealth. Vol. 3 ISBN 978 92 4 156425 0. p.1 World Health Organization. Retrieved June 01, 2023, from https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/44607/9789241564250_eng.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
World Health Organization. Human rights. Retrieved May 30, 2023, from https://www.who.int/health-topics/human-rights#tab=tab_1
World Health Organization, 2020. Estonia and WHO to work together on digital health and innovation. Retrieved June 01, 2023, from https://www.who.int/europe/news/item/07-10-2020-estonia-and-who-to-work-together-on-digital-health-and-innovation
World Health Organization, 2022. Consolidated telemedicine implementation guide. Retrieved June 01, 2023, from https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240059184
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
JOMSA maintains CC Attribution 4.0 license and authors retain the copyright.
