|
Information technology has revolutionized healthcare. Electronic access to prescriptions and medical records, along with the ability to send diagnostics imaging electronically, has made possible a more personalized and efficient healthcare system.
In recent years, the Spanish Healthcare System has initiated major efforts to improve accessibility and the use of its services through information and communication technology (ICT). The Ministry of Health and Consumer Affairs’ online healthcare project, conducted in cooperation with the governments of Spain’s autonomous regions, is serving to advance the application of information technologies and close the gap in the incorporation of ICT in healthcare among the regions.
The implementation of healthcare information technology, however, is not limited to public and regional administrations. Major private healthcare organizations have also discovered the benefits of ICT in improving their management models. These projects have been undertaken in collaboration with some of the leading Spanish companies in healthcare technology, such as Iecisa, Telvent and Indra.
Medical Records
Spain leads among European countries in the digitization of its citizens’ medical records. According to the Ministry of Health’s National Healthcare System Quality Agency, 97% of all Spanish doctors have access to digitized patient information. That percentage, according to the Minister of Health, is well above that of France and Germany.
|
