Web 2.0 to Revolutionize Healthcare Systems
The application of web 2.0 technologies is now driving far-reaching changes in healthcare systems in the UK, USA and Europe, a new research report says. Web 2.0 in the Health Sector: Industry Review with a UK perspective concludes that new applications based on social health networks and content generated by health service users themselves - such as reviews of doctors and hospitals - will rapidly evolve to challenge existing healthcare systems and create new ways of delivering healthcare.
The research report, produced by e-Health Insider, details how participatory networked web 2.0 technologies - exemplified by Facebook, YouTube and Wikipedia - are being applied to healthcare.
The report argues that “e-health 2.0” will first and foremost be consumer-led. “Health is consistently one of the most searched for subjects online. The application of web 2.0 technologies into health is already challenging traditional doctor-patient relationships and beginning to place far greater power in the hands of consumers. These changes are likely to be rapid and may prove highly disruptive.”
The 108-page research report states that a wide range of applications have already been developed and are in use in health, with early signs of a groundswell of participation in the traditionally conservative healthcare sector.
Though important, this is not just about user-generated content through social networking tools, Wikis, blogs, video clips, or mash-ups. Web 2.0 technologies are now being used for new interactions between patients and providers.
Twenty e-Health 2.0 companies and organisations leading this fast emerging sector are profiled through questionnaire and follow-up interviews. The profiles provide a broad cross section of the wide range of e-health 2.0 applications already available. Organisations profiled are drawn from the US, UK, India and Germany, and include BioWizard, DailyStrength, Dooox, Ehealthopinion, HealthSpace, HealthVault, Healthwise, Jooly’s Joint (MS Webpals), MEDgle, MedHelp ,MedTrackAlert, NHS Choices, Patient Opinion, PatientsLikeMe, Patients Talking, RateMDs, RateMyHospital, RightHealth by Kosmix, SugarStats and Who Is Sick.
It concludes that although at an early stage an e-health 2.0 revolution is now underway, and makes a series of recommendations for healthcare providers and policy makers. The report can be purchased here.
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