Ehealth

Abstract eHealth is a relatively new term that refers to the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) to improve health and health‐care services. eHealth is different from the field of medical informatics in that eHealth highlights the use of networked digital ICTs, primarily the Internet, rather than the closed and fixed technologies used in medical informatics. Thus, eHealth encompasses a broad and rapidly growing number of applications, including dissemination of health information; patient–provider communication; participation in online support groups; creating, storing, and sharing personal health records (PHRs); electronic medical records (EMRs); decision support for clinicians and patients; and use of wearable sensors to collect data on physical functioning and health status. eHealth is widely believed to be an essential part of public and private sector efforts to improve health care and reduce costs. Given the increasing age of the US population and the fact that chronic diseases are the main cause of morbidity and premature mortality, eHealth is seen as key to fostering healthy behaviors to reduce the risk of chronic diseases and providing consumers with health information and records they need to better manage their medical conditions if they become ill.