Investing in E-Health

As the Internet's presence in health care grows more pervasive, an increasing number of health care providers have begun to implement eHealth innovations in their practice. The interactive health communication system (IHCS), one such eHealth solution, provides consumers with information, informal support, and a venue for communication. Investing in eHealth: What it Takes to Sustain Consumer Health Informatics examines the evolution of the IHCS and the significant changes in organizational culture and operational systems that may be required for successful and sustained implementation.

This book explores the development of a model (funded by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality in 1998) to predict and explain the degree of success of such implementation efforts. This model allows an institution to benchmark its progress towards IHCS implementation and advises administrators where to invest resources to increase the chance of successful implementation. A set of case studies highlights key features of the model; each study describes an attempt by an organization to implement the Comprehensive Health Enhancement Support System (CHESS), a proven IHCS. After examining the success or failure of each particular implementation, the book suggests steps that could have been taken to address weaknesses identified by the model. Investing in eHealth culminates in a set of general guidelines for any health care provider striving to successfully employ the model, and suggests directions for future research.

Investing in eHealth: What it Takes to Sustain Consumer Health Informatics examines the evolution of the IHCS and the significant changes in organizational culture and operational systems that may be required for successful and sustained implementation. This book culminates a set of general guidelines for any health care provider striving to successfully employ the model, and suggests directions for future research on the diffusion of IHCSs and related technologies.

Investing in eHealth provides a principled approach to support health care managers, clinicians, and educators interested in complementing clinical services with interactive health communication systems (IHCSs).

David H. Gustafson, PhD, is a professor of Industrial Engineering and Preventive Medicine at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is also Director of the University’s Center of Excellence in Cancer Communication Research and Director of the National Program Office for the National Improvement Network for Addiction Treatment.

Patricia Flatley Brennan, RN, PhD, is a Moehlman Bascom Professor for the School of Nursing and College of Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She has also served as director of HeartCare and president of the American Medical Informatics Association.

Robert Hawkins, PhD, is a professor at the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.