This paper discusses the interspecies musical collaboration between Alon Ilsar and his dog Razzly, exploring creativity, play, agency, and social interaction through improvised performances utilizing a gestural instrument.

Key points of the paper

1. Razzy is a Koolpoodle (quarter Australian Kelpie, quarter Koolie and half Poodle) <3
2. The author of performances with Razzly showcasing interspecies collaboration and improvised music dynamics.
3. Analysis of dog-human play parallels with collaborative musical improvisation and social bonding.
4. Exploration of agency and consent in musical interactions between humans and Razzly the dog.

The gestural Digital Musical Instrument (DMI) used in the performances with Razzly the dog was the AirSticks. This device was integrated into a fetch ball, allowing for an interactive experience where both the dog and the musician could participate in improvisation, merging play with music-making.

Demonstration of the AirSticks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWNQA4D_tm0

The ethical considerations in the collaboration between the author and Razzly the dog were taken seriously, ensuring the dog’s well-being throughout the process. The project adhered to best practices for involving animals, promoting consent, and allowing Razzly to express spontaneous behavior. The performances aimed to enhance the quality of life for Razzly while avoiding any distress.

The paper explores themes of creativity, agency, and consent in dog-human interactions during music performances. It highlights the importance of spontaneous play and trust in fostering collaborative musical experiences. Additionally, it reflects on how these interactions can enhance understanding between species and reshape traditional notions of musicality.

Alon Ilsar collaborated with his dog, Razzly, in three distinct performances that evolved over a year and took place in different cities. These gigs served as an exploration of interspecies interaction and musicking, highlighting the dog’s agency and emotional response throughout the process.

The interactions between Razzly the dog and the author enhance understanding between species by emphasizing the importance of play and trust in collaborative endeavors. This reshapes traditional notions of musicality by illustrating how non-human animals can embody creative agency, turning spontaneous interactions into meaningful musical experiences. Such collaborations challenge the anthropocentric view of music, highlighting the richness of interspecies communication.

Razzly expressed himself during the improvised musical performances through his natural behaviors, such as vocalizing during play, engaging in catching and fetching activities, and choosing where to drop the ball, which communicated various emotions like joy and fatigue. His playful energy and interactions with the audience highlighted his agency within the musical process.

https://nime.org/proceedings/2024/nime2024_29.pdf

Hello hello Blog! I’ve missed you <3
In today’s Blog post I will present the three quick and dirty prototypes I made for Birgit’s class a few weeks ago. The assignment was to focus on making something very fast (20 mins if I remember correctly) and bring one of the prototypes to class for a fun speed dating task where we could show each other our weird creations.

The Pomodoro Timer

I struggle A LOT with staying focused on tasks and shifting from task to task trying to do things simultaneously even though it does not work like that. Funnily enough I started writing this post while I was on the finishing line of a work project. Instead of just taking 10 more minutes on the work thing and being done with it I decided naaaah, I’ll start something new (while still thinking about the work thing stressing out about it). Aaaanyway I’ve tried many different focus methods but the one that works best for me is using a Pomodoro Timer.

The Pomodoro Timer is a time management technique where you break down all of your tasks into 25 minute blocks of focused time. Between each time block, there is a five minute break. It’s simple, effective and very easy to implement because you can literally just set a timer on your phone. Of course there are many different apps, youtube videos and physical timers to help with this method. Personally I love the Ultimate Focus app on my iPad next to me while I’m working.

I really love seeing the time go down and how fun it is to drag the red part (= time) around. But I kind of hate that it’s on a screen and that I can’t input the task I’m trying to focus on in text on the screen.

I’ve started looking into physical timers (like the big one we have at FH) for my desk but of course I want it to look cute and I haven’t found one yet that I liked. Soooo I thought I could use it for my prototype. Wow that was a long introduction to this very simple concept. I promise the others will be shorter.

So this is what I came up with. I really would like my hypothetical timer to have chunky physical buttons so that is what I focused on to visualize in this first prototype.

The Tea Bar

My roommates and I drink lots of Tea but I don’t really like how we are currently storing them. I would love to have them displayed on the wall and have easy access to them. Also, sometimes I can’t decide which tea I would like to drink so in my prototype I added one box for a random tea. I also added a honey dispenser and a drip tray to the tea bar.

The Blood Donation Feature

For my master’s thesis I would like to create a concept for an e-health application. This prototype is a scribble of one possible feature of the application. A simple form to register for donating blood.

In this blog post I would like to highlight two ISO (International Organization for Standardization) norms that could create a framework for ensuring the quality and usability of eHealth applications. Quality control is not just a regulatory requirement; it is crucial for enhancing user satisfaction and achieving positive health outcomes. By examining the principles outlined in ISO 9241-210 and ISO 9001, I will explore how these standards can help create applications that are not only functional but also user-friendly and effective.

ISO 9001

ISO 9001 is an international standard that specifies requirements for a quality management system (QMS). It is part of the ISO 9000 family of standards, which focus on various aspects of quality management. Here are some key points about ISO 9001:

1. Quality Management System (QMS): ISO 9001 provides a framework for organizations to establish a QMS that ensures consistent quality in products and services.
2. Customer Focus: One of the main principles of ISO 9001 is a strong focus on customer satisfaction. Organizations are encouraged to understand customer needs and strive to meet or exceed those expectations.
3. Process Approach: The standard emphasizes the importance of managing interrelated processes to achieve desired outcomes efficiently. Organizations are encouraged to identify, manage, and improve their processes.
4. Continuous Improvement: ISO 9001 promotes a culture of continuous improvement within organizations, encouraging them to regularly evaluate and enhance their practices to increase efficiency and effectiveness.
5. Evidence-Based Decision Making: The standard encourages organizations to rely on data and analysis to support decision-making processes, ensuring that actions are based on objective evidence.
6. Risk Management: ISO 9001 incorporates a risk-based thinking approach, helping organizations identify and address potential risks that could affect the quality of products and services.
7. Certification: Organizations can seek certification to ISO 9001 through accredited certification bodies. Having this certification demonstrates a commitment to quality management and can enhance credibility with customers and stakeholders.

ISO 9001 is applicable to organizations of all sizes and sectors, making it a widely recognized standard for quality management worldwide.

ISO 9241-210

ISO 9241-210, titled “Ergonomics of human-system interaction — Part 210: Human-centered design for interactive systems,” is an international standard that provides guidelines for human-centered design (HCD) processes for interactive systems. This standard is part of the broader ISO 9241 series, which focuses on ergonomics and usability in human-system interactions. Here are some key aspects of ISO 9241-210:

1. Human-Centered Design Principles: ISO 9241-210 emphasizes the importance of placing the user at the center of the design process. It aims to ensure that the needs, preferences, and limitations of users are considered throughout the development lifecycle.
2. Design Process: The standard outlines a structured design process consisting of several essential activities:
   • Understanding and specifying the context of use: Identifying users, their tasks, and the environments in which the system will be used.
   • Specifying user and organizational requirements: Gathering and documenting user needs and preferences to inform the design.
   • Producing design solutions: Creating designs and prototypes that address the identified requirements.
   • Evaluating design solutions: Testing and assessing the usability of the design with real users to gather feedback and make improvements.
3. Iterative Approach: ISO 9241-210 promotes an iterative design process, where designs are continuously refined based on user feedback and evaluation results. This helps ensure that the final product effectively meets user needs.
4. User Involvement: The standard encourages active user involvement throughout the design process. Engaging users helps designers understand their experiences and preferences, leading to more effective design solutions.
5. Multidisciplinary Collaboration: ISO 9241-210 acknowledges that successful human-centered design often requires collaboration among various stakeholders, including designers, developers, users, and subject matter experts.
6. Documentation and Communication: The standard emphasizes the importance of documenting the design process, decisions made, and user feedback. Clear communication among team members and stakeholders is essential for successful design outcomes.
7. Applicability: ISO 9241-210 is applicable to a wide range of interactive systems, including software applications, websites, and hardware interfaces, making it relevant for various industries.

In summary, both ISO 9241-210 and ISO 9001 provide valuable frameworks for enhancing the quality of eHealth solutions, but they focus on different aspects of quality assurance. ISO 9241-210 centers on human-centered design principles, emphasizing usability and user experience in interactive systems. In contrast, ISO 9001 is broader in scope, focusing on quality management systems and organizational processes to ensure consistent quality in products and services. By integrating the insights from both standard into developing eHealth solutions it could be ensured that the applications truly serve the needs of their users, ultimately leading to improved health outcomes and greater user satisfaction.

Resources

https://www.iso.org

ISO 9001:2015 Certification Process: Expert Insights.

In this post I would like to highlight two examples of best practices in eHealth services,

Bettercare

Bettercare is an eHealth solution that focuses on improving healthcare delivery through digital tools. It aims to enhance communication between patients and healthcare providers, streamline workflows, and facilitate access to healthcare services. It was developed in Slovenia in 2016 and since then has claimed their platform users have 70 % less unnecessary outpatient appointments.

As a low code plattform, Bettercare allows healthcare providers to create and customize applications and workflows with minimal coding expertise, enabling faster development and deployment of digital health solutions. This flexibility helps organizations adapt to changing healthcare needs and integrate various digital tools efficiently.

Bettercare uses openEHR, which is an open standard specification for electronic health record (EHR) systems that emphasizes the management of health information over time. It provides a framework for creating, sharing, and managing health data in a way that is interoperable and vendor-independent. openEHR is based on a two-level modeling approach, separating the information model from the application model. This means that clinical data is stored in a standardized format while allowing flexibility in how it is presented and used by different applications.

A standardized design system offers users the possibility to create user friendly and consistent healthcare applications without thinking of the UI Design. The screenshots below show some examples from the design system.

Bettercare claims that it is used in 20+ countries and over 1000 healthcare institutions are connected. However, I wasn’t able to find detailed information on which institutions or countries use Bettercare.

e-nabiz

e-Nabız (translates to e-pulse) is a digital health platform developed in Turkey that serves as a personal health management system. It allows individuals to access their health information, manage their medical records, and communicate with healthcare providers.

By providing access to personal health information and facilitating communication with healthcare providers, e-Nabız empowers individuals to take an active role in managing their health.

The following screenshots show some of the key features the application offers:

Health Records: Users can view and manage their medical history, including laboratory results, prescriptions, and treatment plans.

Appointment Management: The platform enables users to schedule and manage appointments with healthcare professionals easily.

Telemedicine: e-Nabız supports telehealth services, allowing patients to consult with doctors remotely.

Medication Tracking: Users can keep track of their medications, dosages, and schedules.

Health Monitoring: The platform may integrate with wearable devices or health apps to monitor health metrics and provide insights.

Interoperability: e-Nabız aims to connect with various healthcare institutions, enhancing the accessibility of medical data across different providers.

The platform has won many awards such as the title “Best Health Application” in 2017.

Resources

https://www.dailysabah.com/health/2017/03/23/un-award-for-best-health-app-goes-to-turkey

https://www.better.care/

1. Promoting health and preventing disease

Empowering Self-Management: Applications that enable the tracking of symptoms or monitoring of health parameters can help individuals manage conditions better, promoting self-responsibility.

Enhanced preventative care: Digital tools can aid in informing the population about preventative check-ups and vaccinations, ideally through a central platform.

Improved coordination of care: Digital networking among healthcare providers can enhance the coordination of health measures, allowing for more holistic care that takes into account various aspects of health such as nutrition, exercise, and mental well-being.

Telehealth for wider access: Telehealth solutions offer flexible options for receiving medical support, improving care in rural areas and for those with mobility issues.

Support for chronic conditions: Digital tools can provide continuous support for people managing chronic diseases, integrating both analogue and digital services

There are different opinions about weather or not regular checkups reduce mortality rate.  For example: 

Women who participated in mammography screening (Duffy S. et.al. , 2020)had a statistically significant 41% reduction in their risk of dying of breast cancer within 10 years.

A study from 2021 (Liss D. et.al, 2021) did not show a reduction in mortality or cardiovascular events; however, they were linked to enhanced recognition and treatment of chronic diseases, better control of risk factors, increased uptake of preventive services, and improved patient-reported outcomes. Primary care teams can justifiably provide general health checks, particularly for populations at greater risk of missed preventive services, uncontrolled risk factors, low self-assessed health, or limited access to primary care.

2. Climate factors

Telemedicine not only cuts down on travel but can also reduce the energy and resource use of health facilities. This includes decreasing the consumption of disposable medical products and disinfectants and lowering the overall energy demands of hospitals due to fewer in-person visit.

Electronic health records conserve resources and help avoiding unnecessary or duplicate treatments and tests. While digital solutions offer climate benefits, they should not be implemented without considering access equity, digital skills, and societal values.

3. Gender, equal opportunities and inclusivity

Digitalisation and socio-economic factors: Studies indicate that individuals with higher income and education are more likely to use health apps. Also, older and unemployed individuals tend to have a lower usage of digital health offers.

Data Bias: The document raises concerns about potential gender bias in data sets, noting that women may be underrepresented or that data may lack gender breakdowns7. It also warns that AI systems may not adequately consider the anatomical and physiological needs of different genders if their data sets are biased, which could lead to inappropriate symptom evaluations and therapy.

Duffy, S. W., Tabár, L., Yen, A. M., Dean, P. B., Smith, R. A., Jonsson, H., Törnberg, S., Chen, S. L., Chiu, S. Y., Fann, J. C., Ku, M. M., Wu, W. Y., Hsu, C. Y., Chen, Y. C., Svane, G., Azavedo, E., Grundström, H., Sundén, P., Leifland, K., Frodis, E., … Chen, T. H. (2020). Mammography screening reduces rates of advanced and fatal breast cancers: Results in 549,091 women. Cancer, 126(13), 2971–2979. https://doi.org/10.1002/cncr.32859

Liss, D. T., Uchida, T., Wilkes, C. L., Radakrishnan, A., & Linder, J. A. (2021). General Health Checks in Adult Primary Care: A Review. JAMA, 325(22), 2294–2306. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2021.6524

BMSGPK (2024): eHealth-Strategie
Österreich. v1.0 im Juni 2024. Bundesministerium für Soziales, Gesundheit,
Pflege und Konsumentenschutz, Wien

https://www.sozialministerium.at/Themen/Gesundheit/eHealth/eHealth-in-Oesterreich.html

Early on in my research I came across the document “eHealth-Strategie Österreich” created by the Ministry of Social Affairs (Sozialministerium) published in June 2024.

The digitalization of healthcare in Austria was significantly accelerated by the pandemic. For the first time, there were large-scale online appointment bookings and teleconsultations, the hotline 1450 was expanded, and the e-prescription has now become established. To further advance digitalization, the federal government, states, and social insurance will provide an additional 51 million euros annually as part of the healthcare reform. The “eHealth Strategy Austria” defines the focus areas and priorities for implementation in the coming years.

This document presents Austria’s eHealth strategy for 2024–2030, aiming to digitally transform its healthcare system. It outlines strategic and operational goals, including improved digital access, telehealth services, infrastructure development, and data utilisation. The strategy emphasises patient-centric care, incorporates a participatory stakeholder process, and addresses challenges like digital literacy and data governance. Implementation plans and monitoring frameworks are detailed, with a commitment to regular updates. International best practices and the European Health Data Space are also considered.

The Austrian eHealth strategy aims to define a shared vision for eHealth and digitalisation in the health and care sector in Austria, with a focus on further development. The strategy seeks to contribute to the maintenance and restoration of health through the appropriate use of digitalisation. It addresses various target groups, including citizens, patients, healthcare providers, and those involved in research and system management.

Eight strategic goals, each with specific measures are designed to achieve the objectives of the strategy:

1. Enabling digital access to the healthcare system. This involves ensuring all citizens and healthcare providers have access to the public health telematics infrastructure (GTI) and that digital services are integrated across all levels of care, while maintaining analogue options.
2. Creating telehealth prevention and care solutions. This aims to develop a network of telehealth services to improve patient care and enhance collaboration among healthcare providers, with clear legal and organisational frameworks.
3. Further developing the public health telematics infrastructure (Gesundheitstelematik-Infrastruktur GTI). The goal is to establish a robust and convergent infrastructure to support digitalisation in the health and care sectors. This includes ensuring the GTI’s operation, updating its architecture, and expanding its connectivity to all relevant healthcare providers.
4. Providing central eHealth services/components. This involves offering essential services and components to support participation in the public GTI, utilizing the existing e-government infrastructure.
5. Establishing registers relevant to healthcare and governance. This focuses on having a defined set of registers for health data, both statutory and virtual, which are essential for improving care quality, patient safety and system management.
6. Strengthening the secondary use of health data. The strategy aims to create a secure platform for the secondary use of health data in research and system management, ensuring compliance with data protection standards and the European Health Data Space (EHDS).
7. Making innovation accessible. This involves creating a structured approach to innovation within the public health system, setting up transparent processes for introducing external innovations, and ensuring that innovative projects receive sufficient support and funding.
8. Strengthening digital skills. The strategy seeks to ensure that both patients and healthcare providers have the necessary digital skills, with readily available training and support.

Each goal is then broken down into operational goals and specific measures. The following screenshot shows what this looks like for the 5th goal “Establishing registers relevant to healthcare and governance“.

By actively engaging users in the design and testing phases, the Austrian eHealth strategy aims to create digital health solutions that are both effective and accepted by the public. The paper states that the development process must be user-centred and participatory, involving potential users in the design process.

The strategy is designed to be a living document, and will be updated every five years, aligning with financial equalisation periods. It is also intended to align with the health reform of 2023, the Federal Target-Based Governance Contract of 2024 and the “digital before outpatient before inpatient” (digital vor ambulant vor stationär) principle. The eHealth strategy is designed to be a collaborative effort that involves all relevant stakeholders and aims to create a patient-centred digital health system.

References

BMSGPK (2024): eHealth-Strategie
Österreich. v1.0 im Juni 2024. Bundesministerium für Soziales, Gesundheit,
Pflege und Konsumentenschutz, Wien

https://www.sozialministerium.at/Themen/Gesundheit/eHealth/eHealth-in-Oesterreich.html

As I dive into my research on a national healthcare tool in Austria, I’ve come to realize just how crucial it is to understand e-health (also referred as eHealth). This concept is not just a buzzword; it’s a fundamental part of the future of healthcare. Before we get into the specifics of the tool I’m studying, let’s define e-health and see how it’s changing the way we think about healthcare.

What is E-Health (eHealth)?

E-health refers to the use of information and communication technology (ICT) in healthcare. This encompasses a wide range of applications, including telemedicine, electronic health records (EHRs), mobile health (mHealth) applications, and health information exchanges. E-health empowers patients and healthcare professionals by providing easy access to health information, remote consultations, and streamlined data management.

The first attempts to implement eHealth date back to the 1970s, when people were looking for ways to record patients’ medical histories using computers.
The term eHealth was first used in the 1990s in various business magazines and studies by management consultancies. The term found its way into medical journals around the turn of the millennium.

What es M-Health (mHealth)?

Health is a subset of eHealth, focusing specifically on mobile technologies, while eHealth encompasses a broader range of digital health technologies. Both M-Health and E-Health aim to enhance healthcare delivery and improve patient outcomes.

Benefits of E-Health

1. Improved Access to Care: E-health solutions break down geographical barriers, allowing patients in rural or underserved areas to access medical expertise that may not be available locally. Telehealth services enable virtual consultations with specialists, ensuring timely care without the need for extensive travel.
2. Enhanced Patient Engagement: E-health tools, such as patient portals and mobile apps, encourage patients to take an active role in their healthcare. Patients can access their medical records, schedule appointments, and communicate with healthcare providers, leading to better adherence to treatment plans.
3. Streamlined Healthcare Delivery: Electronic health records improve the efficiency of healthcare delivery by consolidating patient information in one accessible location. This reduces administrative burdens, enhances communication among care teams, and minimizes the risk of errors.
4. Cost-Effectiveness: E-health can lead to cost savings for both patients and healthcare systems. Remote consultations reduce travel expenses, while improved management of chronic conditions can lower the need for expensive emergency care.
5. Data-Driven Insights: The integration of big data and analytics in e-health facilitates better decision-making. Healthcare providers can analyze patient data to identify trends, improve treatment protocols, and enhance overall health outcomes.

Challenges in E-Health

Despite its numerous benefits, e-health also faces several challenges:

1. Privacy and Security Concerns: The digitization of health information raises concerns about data security. Protecting patient information from breaches and ensuring compliance with regulations such as HIPAA is paramount.
2. Digital Divide: Not all patients have equal access to technology. Socioeconomic factors and can limit some individuals’ ability to utilize e-health services, potentially exacerbating health disparities.
3. Integration Issues: Many healthcare systems still rely on outdated technology, making it difficult to integrate new e-health solutions. Interoperability between different health information systems remains a significant hurdle.
4. Regulatory Challenges: The rapid pace of technological advancement often outstrips regulatory frameworks, leading to uncertainty regarding the approval and implementation of new e-health solutions.

The Future of E-Health

The future of e-health looks promising as technology continues to evolve. Innovations such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and wearable devices are poised to revolutionize the way we approach healthcare. For instance, AI can analyze vast amounts of data to assist in diagnosis and treatment planning, while wearables provide real-time health monitoring.

The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the adoption of e-health solutions, leading to greater acceptance among both patients and providers. As telehealth becomes more mainstream, we can expect to see ongoing investments in technology and infrastructure to support this shift.

Conclusion

E-health represents a paradigm shift in the delivery of healthcare services, offering a more accessible, efficient, and patient-centered approach. While challenges remain, the potential benefits of e-health are too significant to ignore. As we look to the future, embracing e-health solutions will be crucial for improving health outcomes, enhancing patient engagement, and ultimately transforming the healthcare landscape for the better.

References

1. Was ist eHealth? (2017, July 2). eGovernment. https://www.egovernment.de/was-ist-ehealth-a-570980/
2. Galavi, Z., Khajouei, R., & Jahani, Y. (2023). The role of e-health on the public knowledge and behavior in preventing COVID-19. Informatics in Medicine Unlocked, 37, 101193. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.imu.2023.101193
3. WHO guideline Recommendations on Digital Interventions for Health System Strengthening. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2019. 1, Introduction. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK541905/

Before the Christmas break I created a quick survey to determine whether the people in my bubble share similar frustrations with current digital healthcare solutions. It’s not a highly scientific study; rather, I’m gathering ideas and seeking confirmation that there’s room for improvement in the digital health sector.

I received 11 responses and learned that many people may not engage with questionnaires, even short ones. Maybe it was also due to the holidays and people were busy eating cookies. For my official survey, I’ll need to reach out to a larger audience or focus on obtaining quality data rather than just quantitative results. If you’re reading this and would like to contribute, you can participate in the questionnaire by following this link. It only takes 5 minutes 😉 https://forms.gle/rSiXXLivi6TypXwUA

Results

Below you will find screenshots of the results.

In conclusion, this informal questionnaire has served as a valuable test run, providing insights into what I need to consider for the official round as I move closer to completing my thesis.

As most of you know, Austria is always kind of slow with optimizing processes and digitizing traditional burocratic systems. In this blog post I would like to sum up the technology / touchpoints with the main digital health systems you might have come across.

As I’m insured at SVS my experience might differ to yours. My plan is to analyze the differences there are between the different insurances.

Meine SV

A digital service platform in Austria that serves as a personal online portal for citizens to manage their social security and health insurance matters efficiently. Launched to simplify access to important services and information, MeineSV allows users to handle various administrative tasks related to their social security in a user-friendly manner.

Key features of MeineSV include:

1. Personalized Access: Users can log in to the platform using their secure electronic identification (e-ID), providing a personalized experience tailored to their individual social security needs.
2. Comprehensive Services: Through MeineSV, users can access a range of services, such as checking their insurance status, viewing payroll information, and managing health insurance details. This centralization streamlines the process of handling social security matters.
3. Online Applications: The platform enables users to submit applications for various social security benefits, including pensions, unemployment benefits, and family allowances, all through an online interface.
4. Document Management: MeineSV allows users to upload and manage relevant documents, facilitating easier communication with social security authorities and reducing the need for physical paperwork.
5. Information Access: The platform provides users with access to vital information regarding their rights and obligations under the social security system, helping them stay informed about changes and updates.

Elga

ELGA, or the “Elektronische Gesundheitsakte,” is Austria’s electronic health record system designed to improve the management and accessibility of patient health information.

Key features of ELGA include:

1. Centralized Health Records: ELGA allows for the storage and sharing of patient health data, including medical history, medications, allergies, and treatment plans, ensuring that healthcare providers have access to up-to-date information.
2. Vaccination documentation: A digital overview of vaccinations.
3. Patient Control: Patients have the ability to manage their own health records, granting or revoking access to healthcare professionals as needed. This empowers individuals to take an active role in their healthcare.
4. Interoperability: The system is designed to ensure that different healthcare providers can easily share information, improving coordination of care and reducing duplication of tests and procedures.
5. Enhanced Continuity of Care: By providing healthcare professionals with immediate access to a patient’s medical history, ELGA supports better decision-making and continuity of care, especially during emergencies.
6. Data Security and Privacy: ELGA places a strong emphasis on protecting patient data, implementing strict security measures to ensure the confidentiality and integrity of health information.

Currently there is no mobile application of Elga.

What is missing?

Both online portals have significant benefits that should be combined into one system in my opinion. One significant feature that is missing is that there is no possibility of contacting the healthcare professional directly via the platform. Also there is no possibility of setting reminders for future checkups or vaccinations which I would find extremely helpful.

Next Steps

For my next post I would like to create a small informal questionnaire (as mentioned in my first post) and also find out if anybody uses the two mentioned platforms and what they like/ dislike about them.

Keeping up with doctor’s appointments, scheduling, looking for printed medical findings from 2 years ago, these are all outdated processes everyone still deals with. With online portals like ELGA, the Austrian Government has started the process of digitizing the Austrian Healthcare system. Still, there is room for improvement.

This thesis explores the rollout of a national health administration tool designed to streamline processes, improve data accessibility, and foster better communication among healthcare providers and patients. An all-in-one tool, where patients and healthcare professionals can communicate, confidently share information, and – most importantly – prioritize the patient’s health efficiently.

A key focus of this thesis is to investigate whether patients are willing to embrace digital health tools within the national health administration framework, particularly given the sensitive nature of health-related topics. By conducting surveys and interviews, the research will assess patient attitudes, digital literacy, and perceived barriers to adoption.

The main challenge here is to fit the needs of a extremely broad user group. The needs and pain points of the healthcare professional and the side of the patient will be examined in order to find out wether or not such a tool could be realistic, or if the concerns data privacy outweigh the benefits.

In this blog I would like to identify best practices, challenges, and opportunities for creating a more efficient and user-centered health administration system.

Personal Motivation

I’ve always struggled with keeping up with medical appointments, as I’m sure most of you do. After I moved to Graz in October and faced the challenge of finding new doctors I was shocked at how difficult it is to find a doctor (in various fields) that takes new patients.

I was wondering how mortality rates could be tied to the challenges of getting regular medical checkups and found this study that confirmed my hypothesis (McQueenie, 2019): Missed appointments are a major indicator of all-cause mortality, especially among individuals with mental health issues. Current primary healthcare appointment systems fail to effectively address the needs of these patients. Therefore, future interventions must prioritize strategies to enhance attendance to regular doctor’s appointments.

My plan is to further investigate the touchpoints we have with the health care system and find difficulties and challenges. I would also like to ask around in my friend group (kind of like a informal mini survey) to see if they agree that this is an issue and what they find challenging so I can see what other topics I should focus on.

1. eHealth Strategie Österreich
https://www.sozialministerium.at/Themen/Gesundheit/eHealth.html
   Powell, John & Arvanitis, Theodoros. (2015). Welcome to the Digital Health revolution. Digital Health. 1. 10.1177/2055207614561571.
2. Joaquin, J. G. (2023). Designing for health: A guide to health and wellness technology.
3. Hartlep, M. (2015). Durchblick trotz Wolke: Verwaltung von osteopathischen Praxen per Software. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1615-9071(15)30011-3
4. Klauber, u. a. Krankenhaus-Report 2019 : Das digitale Krankenhaus.https://permalink.obvsg.at/fhj/AC15332383
5. McQueenie R, Ellis DA, McConnachie A, Wilson P, Williamson AE. Morbidity, mortality and missed appointments in healthcare: a national retrospective data linkage study. BMC Med. 2019 Jan 11;17(1):2. doi: 10.1186/s12916-018-1234-0. PMID: 30630493; PMCID: PMC6329132.