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ehealth | eservice | portal | EHR | infrastructure | usability | prevention | treatment alternatives | diagnosis
The first Austrian Health Portal was launched at the beginning of 2010 to provide its users with quality-assured and independent information on matters relating to all major health issues.
Commissioned by the Federal Ministry of Health, supervised content-wise by the Health Austria GmbH and technically supported by the Federal Computing Centre, the portal aims to help people seek online advice on health matters. In the light of this initiative, the Federal Minister of Health, Mr. Alois Stöger stated: "I consider this health portal as an important contribution towards strengthening patients' voice. Only those informed can participate in the decisions that affect their own health."
'Health matters' is the most frequently requested topic on the World Wide Web. 70 % of the Austrians use the Internet regularly, with more than 46 % - according to the Austrian Statistics -seeking for specific information about health issues. However, sometimes the information provided online not only cannot help the users find an answer to their issues, but often leaves them with yet more uncertainty than before the search, questioning the quality of the information found. This is where the health portal comes to offer its assistance. According to the Minister "the users can be ensured that the information provided by the portal has been previously examined from independent experts that are free from corporate and advertising interests."
The portal is developed in close cooperation with key partners, such as the Austrian Social Security, the Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES), the General Medical Council, pharmacists, patients and representatives of self-help Law Societies. Systematic research and a multi-step review procedure can guarantee a high level of quality and safety.
The new portal gathers all relevant information about prevention, diagnosis and treatment alternatives. Moreover, information on whether the social insurance covers the costs of performance, or whether they are health insurance deductibles and which applications or authorisations required is also provided. A laboratory helps patients -along with the help of their personal examinations - better understand how high the risk of developing diabetes is. The portal also provides interesting findings about the testing and safety of drugs, as well as information on patients' rights and links to all major institutions of the Austrian health system. During the design process of the portal, special attention was given to usability, accessibility and intelligibility.
The portal should not be consider however as an online health counsellor, nor should it replace the visit to a doctor. It will rather help the people seeking quick, safe quality and independent information and advice on health issues. The Health Portal is a 'work-in-progress', constantly expanding its range of information. The next focus will be dedicated on 'Healthy Life' paying particular attention to exercise, nutrition, smoking and alcohol.
In the final phase of the development of the healthcare portal, all Austrians will be given access to their personal Electronic Health Records (EHR).
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