Health information exchange: What matters at the organizational level?

The introduction of bundled payment reimbursement focuses on rewarding efficient and high-quality care. In order for bundled payment programs to be successful, collaboration across care settings is essential. Consequently, the introduction of this reimbursement program is expected to be associated with an increase of Health Information Exchange (HIE) among health providers.

An International Perspective on Health Information Exchange: Adoption in OECD Countries With Different Health Care System Configurations.

The sharing of information among various care providers is becoming an essential feature of health care systems, and many countries are now adopting policies to foster health information exchange, defined as the electronic transfer of data or information among health care organizations involved in the delivery of care. Given the increasing adoption of this type of policy in several Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development countries, it is important to compare experiences from different countries, because policy adoption in one country can be explained more comprehensively and coherently through comparison with similar policies adopted in other nations. To make a more meaningful cross-country comparison, this article identifies a taxonomy of health systems, and it analyzes institutional and resource-based factors related to health information exchange adoption and how they differ in three main types of health systems: the National Health Service, social health insurance, and private health insurance.

Patient-Centered Medical Home Capacity and Ambulatory Care Utilization.

The patient-centered medical home (PCMH) has increasingly received attention as a model of care to potentially remedy the cost and quality problems that confront the US health care system, including and especially ambulatory care-related issues. This study examined the association between physician practices' PCMH capacity and 3 indicators of ambulatory care utilization: (1) emergency department utilization, (2) ambulatory care sensitive hospitalization rate, and (3) 30-day all-cause readmission rate. Results show that overall PCMH capacity is associated with lower rates, and technical aspects of the PCMH in particular were associated with lower utilization rates while interpersonal capabilities were not.

The performance of mHealth in cancer supportive care: a research agenda.

Background: Since the advent of smartphones, mHealth has risen to the attention of the health care system as something that could radically change the way health care has been viewed, managed, and delivered to date. This is particularly relevant for cancer, as one of the leading causes of death worldwide, and for cancer supportive care, since patients and caregivers have key roles in managing side effects. Given adequate knowledge, they are able to expect appropriate assessments and interventions.

The role of mobile technologies in health care processes: the case of cancer supportive care.

Background: Health care systems are gradually moving toward new models of care based on integrated care processes shared by different care givers and on an empowered role of the patient. Mobile technologies are assuming an emerging role in this scenario. This is particularly true in care processes where the patient has a particularly enhanced role, as is the case of cancer supportive care.