Electronic health services: CESI demands education initiative for healthcare personnel

„Electronic health services, or so-called E-Health, are an important supplement to work in the health sector“, emphasised Esther Reyes Diez, President of CESI Health Trade Council and CESI Vice-President, on 16th September in Luxembourg. The objective is that patients and staff alike are able to use this technology adequately. „In recent years, technological progress has been remarkably fast. Therefore, the demand for further and continuing training to update personnel expertise increases“, says the Trade Council President. Educational programs have to specifically support the needs of an internet-based health care structure. "We will only be able to take advantage of chances and opportunities, if we provide all involved parties with the right tools" said Reyes Diez.

As outlined in its "Digital Agenda", the European Commission wants to launch an action plan for electronic health services for 2012 to 2020. „The Commission must not lose sight of the personnel's situation. Even with top-notch technology, a better and more comprehensive service in the health sector remains unfeasible when employing less personnel and personnel that lack the required training", emphasised Reyes Diez.

Without a specific education initiative, a high level of quality cannot be guaranteed. Well-trained personnel will be better able to help elderly patients overcome their fear of technology. "Elderly persons often shy away from using modern technology in practice. Without trust on both sides, this new technology would only impede work" explains the Trade Council President. Therefore it is necessary to increase both the patients' and health care employees' awareness of the benefits that these new technologies hold.

It is undisputed that the electronic recording of patient data could significantly reduce the much-lamented expenditure involved in documentation requirements in some of the EU states and therefore provide an important contribution to increasing employee job satisfaction. However, Reyes Diez warned that one must not lose sight of the issue of data protection. "Patients have a right to a safe data transfer. Patients' rights must not be sacrificed in the interests of an apparent gain in efficiency“, explains the CESI Vice-President. Rather, it is important to adequately integrate the interest of patients and staff alike.