Consumer Health Informatics (CHI) is a subset of health informatics that helps bridge the gap between patients and healthcare resources. It includes patient-centered informatics, health and prevention literacy, and consumer education (Wickramasinghe, 2019). Much of the focus in this area is on developing strategies in which consumers can manage their health intelligently. CHI includes all technologies that view patients as primary users of health information. This section should include resources, direct and feedback communication channels, visual format, and online video communication capabilities.
When dealing with electronic health data access resources, the context in which consumers will use the content and factors that may affect the availability of information should be considered. The first factor to consider is incorporating infrastructure into the practice of informatics programs. This factor has to do with the available modes of cell phone services that allow information to be obtained over the phone, especially if it is an urgent or severe issue (Wickramasinghe, 2019). For example, for the elderly population, who may not always and thoroughly understand the tactics of the Internet environment, the availability of telephone service will solve the issue of access to medicine. In general, telephone service, even with a full Internet system, is useful for the population’s information transfer speed.
In addition, this factor also includes the direct availability of personnel who will ensure the operation of online programs, even in emergencies. For example, the availability of an alternative energy source will allow people to continue to consume information despite a disaster (Wickramasinghe, 2019). The uninterrupted operation of CHI will keep consumers’ confidence in the data and the hospital despite critical situations or the inability to get an online consultation. In addition, it will improve referral rates because consumers will know the reliability of the clinic. Consequently, the availability of information plays a vital role in the CHI system.
Another not insignificant factor in CHI is the safety and reliability of the information provided. Consumers need to know that the personal information entered into the online system is protected. A transparent and straightforward privacy policy will allow clinics to keep data secure (Wickramasinghe, 2019). With the rise of cybercrime, such as data theft, the challenge for the clinic is to protect the data and make sure it can make decisions to counteract it. Hospitals should create customizable, tiered systems that regulate the amount of information available to different individuals (Al-Muhtadi et al., 2019). For example, for consumers, personal data is fully accessible, but they can only see the names of other users. Consequently, they understand that unauthorized third parties will not view their information.
On the staff side, the situation is similar: for example, the leading IT specialist has the success with the downloaded files but does not know what it contains. Such systems will avoid data leaks, will not violate data protection laws, and will allow users to be confident that their data is safe. The security of information always lies on the organizer (clinic), and the lack of a system for monitoring the processing and transmission of data should not be allowed. Although security is thought to be linked to society’s social capital, every clinic should nevertheless strive for maximum data protection (Al-Muhtadi et al., 2019). Consequently, the cybersecurity factor is an opportunity to build trust with the user.
References
Wickramasinghe N. (2019). Essential considerations for successful consumer health informatics solutions.Yearbook of medical informatics, 28(1), 158–164.
Al-Muhtadi, J., Shahzad, B., Saleem, K., Jameel, W., & Orgun, M. A. (2019). Cybersecurity and privacy issues for socially integrated mobile healthcare applications operating in a multi-cloud environment. Health Informatics Journal, 25(2), 315–329.