HL7 publishes draft PHR standards
International healthcare IT standards body Health Level Seven (HL7), has published the Personal Health Record System Functional Model (PHR-S FM) as a draft standard for trial use. According to HL7, the PHR-S FM defines the set of functions that may be present in PHR systems to create and manage an effective PHR. It also offers […]
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Pan-European 112 emergency number a reality
Citizens across all European Union countries can now access emergency services by dialling 112, the single European emergency number. The pan-European number became a reality in all EU states when Bulgaria became the last EU country to start providing the service. Now that 112 can be called from any phone in Bulgaria, it has achieved […]
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European drugs to carry barcodes
Medicines sold across Europe will have to carry barcodes and other improved security mechanisms, under proposals unveiled by the European Commission to crack down on counterfeit drugs. The Commission says it aims to use technology to enable “total traceability" of all medicines bought in pharmacies or online. Even with the new measures, some repackaging will […]
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Commission sets out steps on patient safety
The European Commission has published proposals designed to improve patient safety and reduce the number of patients who suffer harm from the healthcare they received. One of the main recommendations is to improve the data collection, recording and reporting on medical errors. Each year, three million people are estimated to acquire Healthcare Associated Infections in […]
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Europe launches CommonWell project
A new telecare project will use technology to improve the quality of life for older people in four European countries, supporting independent living though better communications and more integration of health and social care. The European Union-backed CommonWell project aims to support independent living and improve the quality of life for older people and those […]
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Europe aims to boost telemedicine
New guidance to improve access to telemedicine for EU citizens and healthcare professionals across Europe has been published. The European Commission telemedicine communication aims to increase and broaden telemedicine services, including diagnosis, treatment and monitoring at a distance across Europe. The communication, which has been adopted by the Commission after two years of consultation, sets out ten […]
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Irish GP systems get EuroRec quality seal
Four general practice systems used in the Irish market have achieved the 2008 quality label, or seal, awarded by the European Institute for Health Records (EuroRec). EuroRec is the European Commission funded-body responsible for the quality accreditation of electronic healthcare record systems. The EuroRec Seal is intended to help promote cross-border harmonisation and compatability, as […]
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European Commission allies with HIMSS
The European Commission has announced it will merge its annual high level ministerial e-health conference with an industry event run by America’s Healthcare Information and Management Society (HIMSS). The decision would appear to place HIMSS in pole position to dominate future European e-health exhibitions and strengthen its ambitions to grow into the leading professional body […]
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Call for common e-health standards
A new study advocates the development of a common strategy and roadmap for e-health standards development, to support interoperability and the adoption of electronic patient records. Carried out by German research firm Empirica on behalf of the European Commission, the study provides an overview of e-health standards development and uptake. Attention is given to the […]
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Europe urges protection of critical infrastructure
The European Commission has published proposed legislation to strengthen information-sharing on critical infrastructure protection between EU Member States.
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