The Present and Future of eHealth in Spain From a Health Management Perspective

Abstract

eHealth has grown significantly over the last decade. The aim of this study was to determine the level of use of information and communication technologies for health care in Spain and identify the main barriers to development. We used a qualitative study based on data obtained from 8 Spanish autonomous communities through semi-structured, in-depth interviews with key informants in eHealth management and planning. Programs present varying degrees of implementation. Services such as electronic prescriptions, digital medical records, and appointment requests via the Internet are advanced and widespread; others, such as digital imaging, are advanced but not fully deployed; and some, such as telecare programs, are experimental. The study also revealed diverse levels of interoperability and barriers to the expansion of these technologies, which can be classified into 4 fields: technological, organizational, human, and economic. eHealth might evolve more slowly in the coming years. Unless the payoff is clearly seen, major budget cuts in the current economic climate will prevent the implementation of new projects. Programs that help reduce health spending are more likely to be implemented, to the detriment of projects involving simple techniques or even clear health care improvements.