Lugano, Switzerland

eHealth: Information and Communication Technology in Health

when 28 August 2017 - 30 August 2017
language English
duration 1 week
credits 1 EC
fee CHF 800

• Introduction: eHealth concepts and definitions
• Key eHealth applications (Health Information Systems , eLearning, Telemedicine) and how they can support healthcare delivery and management
• eHealth building blocks within a health system
• International trends and success factors in implementing eHealth systems
• Expectations on benefits vs. evidence base, evaluation in eHealth
• eHealth strategy and policy

Course leader

Martin Raab, MEng, MPH, is the Head of the Health Technology and Telemedicine Unit (HTTU) of the Swiss Centre for International Health at the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute. He has 20 years of international working experience in health systems

Course aim

eHealth (the application of information and communication technology to health) plays a major role in health systems around the world nowadays, including in low and middle income countries. eHealth systems are increasingly applied to improve access and quality of health information, enhance healthcare processes, achieve better quality of care and improve patient outcomes.

Despite all the potential, the many implications of eHealth (from the clinical, legal, technological or social points of view) often contribute to making initiatives in this domain complex and challenging. On the other hand, health systems are increasingly dependent on eHealth, despite the widely acknowledged gaps in the evidence-base behind it. That is why it is crucial nowadays that decision-makers in the health domain have a comprehensive understanding of eHealth – what it is, what are its benefits and limitations, what are the best practices, how can it be evaluated – so that interventions in the field can make the best use of technology to improve the health status of populations.

The aim of the course is to enable students to:
• Understand the implications, constraints and opportunities in the application of eHealth in a health system
• Be able to influence and steer eHealth initiatives for maximal results
• Be aware of international best practices and success factors in eHealth
• Have the essential knowledge required to take managerial decisions related to eHealth

Fee info

CHF 800: Includes:
- Course fee
- Material
- Coffee breaks and lunches
- Social events