Related Experiment Videos
The importance of developing an informatics framework for mental health
M Rigby1, J Lindmark, P M Furlan
1Centre for Health Planning and Management, Keele University, Staffordshire, UK. hma10@keele.ac.uk
Health Policy (Amsterdam, Netherlands)
|June 6, 1998
Summary
Mental health services require better informatics support. Integrating telematics can improve care delivery, monitoring, and outcomes for patients, but requires dedicated research and policy commitment.
Area of Science:
- Health Informatics
- Mental Health Services Research
- Telematics Applications
Background:
- Mental health services represent a significant portion of healthcare expenditure but are underserved by informatics developments.
- Current European Union and national health telematics programs lack specific mental health components.
- Telematics offers potential solutions to current challenges in mental health service management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the underrepresentation of mental health in health informatics.
- To explore the potential benefits of telematics for mental health services.
- To advocate for a planned research and development program to adapt informatics for mental health.
Main Methods:
- Review of current health telematics programs and their inclusion of mental health.
- Identification of telematics concepts applicable to mental health, such as integrated records and remote access.
- Discussion of information systems' capabilities in data analysis and outcome measurement.
Main Results:
- Telematics can offer integrated, multi-disciplinary records and real-time multi-site access.
- Information systems can enhance care planning, scheduling, monitoring, and outcome measurement.
- Current informatics techniques need adaptation for the specific attributes of mental health.
Conclusions:
- A planned research and development program is essential to tailor health informatics for mental health.
- Greater policy vision and commitment are needed to realize the benefits of informatics for mental health services.
- The World Health Organization recognizes the potential, but implementation requires increased dedication.