Why is it important to agree on names and definitions for the new Connected Health services?

The ECHAlliance White Paper gathers the principal labels, terms and descriptions that are used to refer to the elements of the Connected Health ecosystem. All of these definitions are useful for the players involved in the area of health, so that they can understand the large variety of technological services and devices currently being developed. 

Amongst other things, there is the description made by the United States Health Department and the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) definition of eHealth or the distinction between telemedicine and telehealth. The telecommunications companies, technological companies, health institutions and the media use these words, but each player uses them in a different way according to their own interests and business opportunities. The indistinct use of all of these terms leads to serious problems of confusion and misunderstanding. 

The author of the report defended the thesis that it is not surprising that definitive definitions might not be available in the Connected Health area, as there is not yet a world health market driven by global technical standards both for equipment and data, and a lack of legal regulation. In fact in 2008 a report from the European Commission already said that “until the eHealth area has its own legal regulation and security, the barriers will remain on progress in eHealth”. 

What must be understood by Connected Health?

The term “Connected Health”, which includes different concepts of eHealth and mHealth, is used in different industries and contexts such as the health sector, the social healthcare sector and the emerging sector of well-being. However, there is a tendency for these sectors to overlap, especially at the present time, in a process in which the integration health and social well-being is promoted. Examples of this are Northern Ireland or Catalonia, with real opportunities for Connected Health. 

Connected Health is obviously concerned with the convergence of health, ICT and telecommunications, in the first instance. Furthermore, it implies the destruction of the healthcare systems of the developed world. 

Specifically, many principal changes are promoted by sectors outside healthcare. In the case of the airspace and automotive sectors (adapting plane and car sensor technology), the energy sector (with respect to remote monitoring applied to health services), leisure (the case of the wearables designed to be carried on some part of the body), and ICT and communications (especially with regard to data analysis and mobile applications). 

The ECHAlliance reaches the conclusion that Connected Health is an integral part of the development of the health and social healthcare services among citizens (and not only patients), as it gives citizens more power to be responsible for managing their own well-being, health and chronic illnesses and improves the quality and efficiency of the services of health and social well-being. In fact the ECHAlliance promotes the expression “Connected Health” to include digital health, eHealth, mHealth, teleassistance, telehealth and telemedicine all together. 

The next steps to standardise definitions on Connected Health

The ECHAlliance White Paper on Connected Health reflects on the fact that the placement of the e- or m- suffixes on constructions such as “eHealth” or “mHealth” is an indication of the slow process of adaptation to ICTs and the new communication tools in the health sector. “In the financial sector, nobody talks about “e-Banking” services any more, but rather “banking”, as ICTs have become a part of the services offered to customers”, the White Paper affirms. According to the authors, the industry and health sector must come up to the level of banking and other more evolved sectors.

This White Paper is the first of a series to be published by the ECHAlliance and Wragge&Co. The next issues will focus on the regulatory framework for Connected Health. Summaries will also be edited on the different healthcare systems in the European Union. 

Furthermore, the Green Paper on mHealth is expected to be published at the end of March by the European Commission. At first it was speculated that this would only focus on health applications and possible legislation on them, but now it is known that it will also deal with the benefits of mHealth for society.

Bibliographic reference

Rees, B. et al. Connected Health White Paper. Definitions for: Digital Health, eHealth, mHealth, Telecare, Telehealth, Telemedicine & Wellness. What do these terms mean?. ECHAlliance and Wragge&Co, January 2014 [access: 12 March 2014]. Available at: http://www.echalliance.com/…