VISUALIZING HEALTH DATA: TRANSFORMING ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORDS

Abstract

Advancements in e-health systems, particularly electronic health records (EHR) and personal health records (PHR), are poised to revolutionize the healthcare sector. The potential impact is immense, as exemplified by the astounding prospect of saving lives, preventing medication errors, and achieving substantial cost savings. The World Health Organization defines e-health as the cost-effective and secure utilization of information and communication technologies across various health-related domains, including healthcare services, health surveillance, education, literature, and research. Key e-health applications encompass electronic medical records, telemedicine, consumer health informatics, and Internet-based services.

The transformative influence of information technology on competition and value creation, observed in industries such as aviation, finance, and retail, is no exception in the realm of e-health. What unites these industries is their information intensity, with data playing a pivotal role in value creation. The contemporary surge in the popularity of e-health systems is driven by technological progress and the growing global population, which presents a heightened demand for healthcare services and a vast influx of health-related data.