Researchers of the Institute of Computer Science of FORTH (FORTH-ICS) were awarded with Honorable Mention for their work entitled: “Electronic Health Record: Luxury or Need?” The paper was presented in the 14th National Conference of Healthcare Management in Athens on 12-13 October 2012, organized by the Hellenic Association of Healthcare Management. The authors of the paper are Angelina Kouroubali, Dimitrios Katehakis and Manolis Tsiknakis from the Computational Medicine Laboratory and the Centre of eHealth Applications & Services of FORTH-ICS and Alexander Berler from HL7 Hellas.

The paper describes the functionality, technical characteristics and benefits of electronic health record (EHR) systems. Also, it analyzes how certification, interoperability and meaningful use are essential components for the success of integrated hospital information systems as a National investment towards better quality care. The EHR is a longitudinal electronic record of patient health information generated by one or more encounters in any care delivery setting. Included in this information are patient demographics, progress notes, problems, medications, vital signs, past medical history, immunizations, laboratory data, and radiology reports. The EHR automates and streamlines the clinician's workflow. The EHR has the ability to generate a complete record of a clinical patient encounter, as well as supporting other care-related activities directly or indirectly via interface—including evidence-based decision support, quality management, and outcomes reporting.

The "Integrated Care Solutions" of FORTH-ICS is the first and only EHR system in Greece which has been certified with the Eurorec Seal level 2. The EHR system of FORTH-ICS has been deployed in more than 20 health care organizations nationally, as part of integrated health information systems. Systems have been deployed in the regional authorities of Attica (1rst DYPE), of Piraeus and Aegean (2nd DYPE) and of Peloponnese, Epirus, Western Greece and Dodecanese (6th DYPE).

FORTH-ICS is certified with ISO 9001:2000, for all research and development activities, since 2008.

For more information please contact:
Dr Angelina Kouroubali, Collaborating Researcher, Computational Medicine Laboratory, FORTH-ICS, tel: 2810 391680, E-mail: kouroub@ics.forth.gr
Mr. Dimitrios Katehakis, Head of Centre for eHealth Applications and Services FORTH-ICS, tel.: 2810 391589, E-mail: katehaki@ics.forth.gr


You may find a technical report about EHR HERE.