Health 2.0 – It’s up to You
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Abstract
The Dutch Council for Public Health published its advisory ‘Health 2.0 – It’s up to you’ to the Dutch minister of Health in the beginning of this year.
It addresses the impact health 2.0, e.g. social media, will have on the provision of healthcare. The patient will no longer be a passive observer, but an active participant in the healthcare process. ‘Patient-centered care’ is no longer an empty promise. The patient enjoys greater opportunities for self-management and receives appropriate support. Participation in social networks serves to highlight the importance of prevention to reduce the risk of developing a health condition in the future. The patient is able to take control of his or her own health and is supported in doing so by a network of fellow patients and professionals.
The advisory addresses the obstacles to the implementation of health 2.0, e.g. the way healthcare is funded or institutional organizations which appear unwilling or unable to adapt to new circumstances. Some organizations might even become redundant. A further problem is that some healthcare consumers are not adequately aware of the opportunities and threats of health 2.0. There is the risk of unreliable information, i.e. misinformation. Another risk is that only a small portion of patients will take a very active part in Health 2.0. They will benefit from the many possibilities offered by the new situation. However, there will remain a number of people who are unable to take part at all. It is essential to ensure that the ‘digital divide’ does not become any wider.
What must be done to realize the opportunities and avoid the threats? All actors within the healthcare system must realize that this development is now underway and cannot be halted. It is therefore necessary to think carefully how the implications are to be addressed. Organizations which fail to respond adequately will find themselves in a very difficult position.
Government must steer and guide the adoption process in order to ensure that the opportunities are maximized and the risks minimized. It must examine how to deal with information and misinformation within social networks. It must also restructure the funding of the healthcare system in such a way as to insure adequate resources for innovation intended to enhance the role of the patient. The various field parties must also accept their respective responsibilities. For example, healthcare providers should examine how they can use the social media to optimize contact and interaction with their patients. Health insurers must offer their insured certain facilities, e.g. the ability to report back on their experiences with the healthcare they have received. The public must realize that prevention is better than curing and embrace lifestyle management and preventive measures to ensure that they are less likely to require services of healthcare professionals. Patient organizations also have a role to play, e.g. on the proper use of personal health record for the purpose of self-management and on integrated care for patients with chronic disease and comorbidity.
It addresses the impact health 2.0, e.g. social media, will have on the provision of healthcare. The patient will no longer be a passive observer, but an active participant in the healthcare process. ‘Patient-centered care’ is no longer an empty promise. The patient enjoys greater opportunities for self-management and receives appropriate support. Participation in social networks serves to highlight the importance of prevention to reduce the risk of developing a health condition in the future. The patient is able to take control of his or her own health and is supported in doing so by a network of fellow patients and professionals.
The advisory addresses the obstacles to the implementation of health 2.0, e.g. the way healthcare is funded or institutional organizations which appear unwilling or unable to adapt to new circumstances. Some organizations might even become redundant. A further problem is that some healthcare consumers are not adequately aware of the opportunities and threats of health 2.0. There is the risk of unreliable information, i.e. misinformation. Another risk is that only a small portion of patients will take a very active part in Health 2.0. They will benefit from the many possibilities offered by the new situation. However, there will remain a number of people who are unable to take part at all. It is essential to ensure that the ‘digital divide’ does not become any wider.
What must be done to realize the opportunities and avoid the threats? All actors within the healthcare system must realize that this development is now underway and cannot be halted. It is therefore necessary to think carefully how the implications are to be addressed. Organizations which fail to respond adequately will find themselves in a very difficult position.
Government must steer and guide the adoption process in order to ensure that the opportunities are maximized and the risks minimized. It must examine how to deal with information and misinformation within social networks. It must also restructure the funding of the healthcare system in such a way as to insure adequate resources for innovation intended to enhance the role of the patient. The various field parties must also accept their respective responsibilities. For example, healthcare providers should examine how they can use the social media to optimize contact and interaction with their patients. Health insurers must offer their insured certain facilities, e.g. the ability to report back on their experiences with the healthcare they have received. The public must realize that prevention is better than curing and embrace lifestyle management and preventive measures to ensure that they are less likely to require services of healthcare professionals. Patient organizations also have a role to play, e.g. on the proper use of personal health record for the purpose of self-management and on integrated care for patients with chronic disease and comorbidity.
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