The key to better healthcare services: Listen to the patient and simpler data sharing

When we include the patient's perspective in treatment, it means listening to their experiences, needs, and wishes. In practice, treatment is individually tailored, leading to increased patient satisfaction and more effective treatment pathways.

Researchers' advice for a better healthcare service: – Listen to the patient (Photo: Colourbox)

New research from researchers at the Western Regional Health Authorities IKT and the Norwegian Centre for E-health Research shows that we can improve healthcare services by listening more intently to patients and making it easier to share health information between systems. This provides better treatment and more efficient use of resources.

Studies conducted by two doctoral students at Nord University, as part of the Valkyrie project at the Norwegian Centre for E-health Research, demonstrate how crucial it is to include patients' viewpoints. If healthcare personnel can share patient information more easily, patients can receive better care.

Better collaboration for better health

The Valkyrie project is developing a data system that makes it easier for healthcare personnel to collaborate across services, especially within mental health. Many patients do not receive adequate care due to poor information flow between municipal and specialist healthcare services.

By making it easier to share health information, the project hopes to provide better services, increased quality of life, and fewer deaths.

Why patient opinions matter

Previously, healthcare services have often been provider-driven, focusing on medical procedures and healthcare personnel's assessments. However, patients' own experiences and needs are crucial for good outcomes.

— Our study "Flipping healthcare" shows that if we standardize the way we collect and share patients' own experiences, it becomes easier to tailor treatment, especially when using electronic health records (EHRs). The result can be better-tailored treatment, more satisfied patients, and more efficient use of resources, says doctoral student Sonja Cassidy in the department for strategic ICT at the Western Regional Health Authorities IKT. (Foto: Privat)

Easier sharing of patient information

Another study shows how important it is for healthcare personnel to easily access a patient's health information, regardless of where the patient was previously.

The Valkyrie project is developing a system that enables coordination without the physical exchange of record data. This allows doctors and nurses to get the right information when they need it, regardless of where the patient has previously received treatment.

Lack of easy and continuous access to patients' health information can lead to delays, duplication of work, and, in the worst case, medical errors. (Photo: Colourbox.)

The system uses so-called secure blockchain technology to manage who has access to the data and where it is stored. Patients can grant permission for each part of their information. This allows important and encrypted information to be shared quickly and securely, which is especially important in emergency situations where every second counts.

Six paths to better data sharing

The study "Healthcare professionals’ cross-organizational access to electronic health records" has identified six methods for how healthcare institutions can access each other's electronic health records (EHRs). The methods range from so-called federated approaches, where data is stored locally at each institution, to centralized systems that gather all information in one common database. Experience shows that a hybrid model may be most effective.

— Although central systems might seem simplest, experiences from Denmark and Finland have shown that they can have significant problems with user-friendliness, even after several years. This suggests that more flexible hybrid solutions may be better, says doctoral student Øivind Skeidsvoll Solvang in the department for strategic ICT at the Western Regional Health Authorities IKT. (Photo: Hasse Berntsen)

Challenges along the way

One challenge is that healthcare personnel do not always trust information from other sources, which can lead to duplication of work and reduced patient safety.

To solve this, we need user-friendly systems that provide good information. Healthcare personnel must be involved in the development and receive training and support.

The patient at the center of future healthcare services

Future research should focus on digitizing patients' experiences and involving them more in their treatment. To ensure effective implementation, it is important to standardize language and methods.

By putting the patient first and removing barriers to information sharing, we can create a healthcare service that is more responsive, efficient, and equitable. (Photo: Colourbox)

Listening to patients and simplifying the sharing of health information is necessary. Projects like Valkyrie bring us closer to a future where healthcare personnel have the tools they need to provide the best possible care, regardless of where the patient has received care previously.

References:

S. Cassidy, Ø. S. Solvang, C. Granja, and T. Solvoll, "Flipping healthcare by including the patient perspective in integrated care pathway design: A scoping review," International Journal of Medical Informatics, vol. 192, p. 105623, 2024/12/01/ 2024, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2024.105623.

Ø. Skeidsvoll Solvang, S. Cassidy, C. Granja, and T. Solvoll, "Healthcare professionals’ cross-organizational access to electronic health records: A scoping review," International Journal of Medical Informatics, vol. 193, p. 105688, 2025/01/01/ 2025, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2024.105688