Information and communication technology: electronic health record as sustainable choice in Southern Europe in the European context

Abstract

Following the European outlook, in the reform context, as declared by the European Government Law related to National Health Service, the countries are implementing Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and Electronic Health Records (EHR). The present research assesses the degree of ICT and EHR and its sustainability in diffusion and adoption across southern Europe cities' hospitals. It outlines the framework of European ICT to evaluate the different degrees of EHR present in southern Europe. The evaluation of the degree of diffusion and adoption of EHR is based on the Southern Europe Inpatient Dataset. It shows how the EHR is in close correlation with ICT policies and how it can also affect such policies.