Health systems today are facing the challenge of providing care to more people at lower cost. The way of delivering care will need to adapt. Streamlined workflows and collaboration across the entire chain of care point towards a sustainable future for the sector, as well as monitoring of patients wherever they are. In this context, information and communication technology plays a major role. A symposium in mid January and a parallel workshop are dedicated to these approaches.
Continua European Symposium 2011
Continua Health Alliance is a non-profit, open industry coalition of healthcare and technology companies. With more than 230 member companies around the world, the organization aims – according to its mission statement – “at establishing a system of interoperable personal health solutions with the knowledge that extending those solutions into the home fosters independence, empowers individuals, and provides the opportunity for truly personalized health and wellness management”.
The alliance will host a two-day Personal Connected Health solutions symposium on 17 and 18 January in Brussels, Belgium. This event will bring together healthcare professionals, researchers, key vendors, entrepreneurs, policy makers, and further stakeholders “for an in-depth look at a variety of Personal Connected Health solutions and how these tools and services will fit into Europe’s current and future model of healthcare”.
The symposium is divided into three tracks: “Chronic Condition Management: Are personal health solutions the right prescription?”; “Ageing Independently: Can personal health solutions support active ageing?”, and “Health & Wellness: Are personal health solutions on your menu?”. Technology options, policy options, as well as requirements from providers of care are part of the agenda.
Neelie Kroes (Fig. 1), Vice President, European Commission, and Petra Wilson (Fig. 2), Secretary General, Continua Health Alliance Europe, will give the opening speeches. Bruno Charrat, Director General, Centre National de Référence Santé à Domicile et Autonomie, France; Thomas Borner, Chairman, PWT Foundation, Denmark, and Alberto Sanna, e-Service for Life & Health Director, Scientific Institute San Raffaele, Italy, will present their visions for connected health at this high-level symposium.
Enabling smart integrated care
In parallel with the event, an interactive workshop will be dedicated to developing and reviewing policy recommendations on promoting interoperability of personal health solutions. Drawing on three preceding workshops with healthcare professionals, device and personal health system (PHS) vendors, and procurers, the “SmartPersonalHealth” project has developed draft recommendations for European, national, and regional level policy makers to promote the adoption of interoperable personal health systems. The workshop will re-convene the stakeholders to review and refine recommendations to improve exchange and cooperation among key stakeholders and create a supportive environment (the structures and organizations, measures, and processes to support standards development, certification, and uptake).
Sources
http://www.continuaalliance.org/events/continuaeusymposium.html
Fig. 1 Neelie Kroes, Vice President, European Commission (courtesy European Commission)
Fig. 2 Petra Wilson, Secretary General, Continua Health Alliance Europe (courtesy Continua Health Alliance)