The role of ICT in a healthcare moving from "clinical-centric" to "patient-centric"

Abstract

We are facing significant changes in healthcare; it is moving from a "clinical-centric" to a "patient-centric" approach where the citizen is motivated and empowered to manage his own health.Its role is extending from treatment to prevention and to remote patient monitoring.This evolution of healthcare is attracting the attention of the industry and ICT will play an important role in this new scenario. Unfortunately there are various challenges and restraints; in this paper we report some of these barriers and propose some guidelines for a successful introduction of new e-health services and for the effective exploitation of personal and at home healthcare solutions. © 2012 Springer-Verlag.