Cloud-based integrated socio-sanitary care e-services in Croatia: Lessons learned

¹ VERN' University of Applied Sciences, Zagreb, Croatia
² Ministry of Health, Zagreb, Croatia
³ City of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia

Abstract

Among many other services, modern governments offer both healthcare and social care to their citizens. Traditionally built in a silo structure and often using separate funding schemes, these two services offer limited possibilities for integration. Therefore, a novel approach is needed which will enable the integrated provisioning of both social and healthcare services to the citizens. This paper describes a platform for collaboration on multiple levels, provided to connect actors from healthcare and social care services – from primary care medical doctors to hospitals, and from home caregivers and/or family members to emergency centres for the elderly. Utilizing the cloud-based ICT tool, we have developed an integrated e-care model and introduced personalised care pathways for the elderly people suffering from various health problems (including heart failure, cardio-vascular diseases, diabetes and mental health issues). This model employs a patient-centric approach to care delivery, giving the patient (or the person acting on behalf of the patient) in power to control (and to share) any data relevant to treat patient's health condition. For the socio-sanitary care providers the benefit is the ability to influence clinical outcomes by remotely monitor and coordinate care initiatives. Using this approach, government has an effective aid to meet quality thresholds, generate clinical outcome metrics and improve satisfaction of the citizens using health and social care services.