UNDERSTANDING E-HEALTH AND SELF CARE|In recent times, there is an emerging field that has to do with health services or information delivered through the internet and related technologies. <o:p></o:p> This emerging field in the intersection of medical informatics, public health, and business is known as E-health.<o:p></o:p> What is E-health?<o:p></o:p> E-health is the use of information and communication technologies to strengthen health and health care. <o:p></o:p> E-health employs several digital technologies. For instance, the internet enables E-health users to communicate with healthcare professionals via e-mail to access medical records, research health information, and carry out a person-to-person exchange of information through text, video, audio e.t.c.<o:p></o:p> Several technologies employed in E-health are accessible to all users with no exception to those with impairments such as deafness or blindness. Also, many modern mobile devices are designed with personal computing and Internet capabilities and are compatible with downloadable applications that enable users to access health information instantly.<o:p></o:p> Types Of E-health<o:p></o:p> There are several ranges of services under the term E-health, below are some of these services.<o:p></o:p> 1. ePrescribing<o:p></o:p> This gives access to prescribing options and printing prescriptions for patients. Sometimes, it provides access to the electronic transmission of prescriptions from doctors to pharmacists.<o:p></o:p> 2. Computerized physician order entry<o:p></o:p> This serves as a means of requesting diagnostic tests and treatments electronically and receiving the results.<o:p></o:p> 3. Teledentistry<o:p></o:p> A means of exchanging clinical information and images over a distance.<o:p></o:p> 4. Telerehabilitation <o:p></o:p> A means of providing rehabilitation services over a distance through telecommunications.<o:p></o:p> 5. Telemedicine <o:p></o:p> For physical and psychological diagnosis and treatments at a distance which includes videoconferencing and telemonitoring of patient's functions.<o:p></o:p> E-health And Self-care<o:p></o:p> Self-care is the procedure by which individuals look after their health using the knowledge and information accessible to them. <o:p></o:p> According to WHO, self-care is "The ability of individuals, families, and communities to promote health, prevent disease, maintain health, and cope with illness and disability with or without the support of a health-care provider”. <o:p></o:p> Self-care involves making healthy lifestyle choices, avoiding unhealthy lifestyle habits, making responsible use of prescription and non-prescription medicines, and self-management.<o:p></o:p> Self Care also involves Self-monitoring which is the tracking and recording of personal data through the use of sensors or tools which are readily available to the public. The tools are digitally available through mobile device applications and the sensors are usually wearable devices.<o:p></o:p> Self-monitoring devices were designed to allow personal data to be instantly available to the individual to be analyzed.<o:p></o:p> Benefits Of E-health<o:p></o:p> 1. It saves time. For instance, patients can schedule their appointment with their care provider online or arrange an online consultation.<o:p></o:p> 2. It gives people more insight into their health and helps patients gain more control over their health because of a greater understanding of their health situation.<o:p></o:p> 3. It lowers administrative burden as it enables doctors to share information securely and easily with colleagues, and have less paperwork.<o:p></o:p> Some barriers to E-health include a lack of financial incentives and reimbursement to support its use within and across organizations. Costs associated with hardware and software purchases as well as maintenance and upgrades. The disparity in access to digital technologies, most especially the Internet is the biggest barrier to the use of E-health.<o:p></o:p> E-health facilitates health improvement and healthcare services through the use of digital technologies and telecommunications and is accessible to all users. It makes information readily available to healthcare professionals and consumers. <div> </div><div>Name - Tobi Fadairo</div><div>Email - farayola.fadairo@gmail.com </div><div>Phone number - +234 703 391 4230</div><div>Instagram

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