How general practitioners and municipalities aim to solve information challenges

Critical emails disappearing in overflowing inboxes, insufficient awareness of municipal health services, and continuously updated procedures from authorities failing to reach GP offices — this is how many general practitioners and municipal employees describe the current situation regarding information sharing.

Our survey in Lier municipality shows that both general practitioners (GPs) and municipal employees desire a digital platform where news, documents, and administrative information can be easily shared and accessed. (Illustration photo: Colourbox).

Researchers from the Norwegian Centre for E-Health Research, commissioned by the health technology company Relevio, conducted a study assessing the municipal health services' needs for new digital information-sharing and collaboration solutions.

"Everyone working in healthcare recognizes these communication challenges. The findings confirm what many already suspected: critical information often gets lost due to emails and unclear procedures," says researcher Erlend Bønes from the Norwegian Centre for E-Health Research. (Photo: Jarl-Stian Olsen)

The researchers highlight a clear need for an improved, secure communication solution for both health-related and administrative information. What could such a solution mean for healthcare workers, and what would it mean for you as a patient?

Efficient Information Exchange is Essential

The GP system faces significant challenges related to recruitment and workload. According to both municipal medical officers and general practitioners, fragmented information flow significantly complicates daily operations.

Incorrect or incomplete overviews of municipal services and infection control routines may result in patients not receiving timely or appropriate care. Municipalities also need effective ways to communicate available local healthcare services, ranging from addiction counselors and dementia coordinators to public health centers, support services for caregivers, and vaccination information.

Shared Challenges—Shared Opportunities

Currently, email is the primary communication channel for such information, often perceived as disorganized and confusing, especially when general practitioners leave their practice or temporary replacements step in. Many GPs also express a desire to share expertise across clinics, especially when dealing with complex patient cases or when coordinating collective procurement of medical equipment.

"The findings indicate genuine motivation and willingness among both general practitioners and municipal health workers to embrace innovative digital solutions that could streamline their daily tasks," says Stine Agnete Ingebrigtsen, PhD candidate at the Norwegian Centre for E-Health Research.

The results stem from a study conducted in Lier municipality, indicating both GPs and municipal staff strongly support the idea of a digital platform that simplifies the sharing and searching of news, documents, and administrative information.

Participants specifically identified four critical areas where such solutions are most needed:

Document sharing
Distribution of relevant news
Secure dialogue and communication among healthcare workers
Improved solutions for peer support and guidance

Digital Collaboration

An effective information portal could save time, improve service quality, and enhance patient safety. Municipalities could more easily fulfill their legal responsibilities concerning the GP system, while GPs would gain better insight into municipal offerings and enhanced opportunities for collaboration with colleagues.

The study concludes that a digital collaboration platform could improve communication and support comprehensive patient care.

"It's important to emphasize that the proposed solutions are not intended to replace patient record systems but rather complement them by providing a secure and structured platform for administrative information, professional updates, and peer support," concludes Bønes.

Who Will Rise to the Challenge?

"I strongly believe in innovative projects where public bodies, research institutions, and industry stakeholders collaborate closely, such as in this case, developing better and more user-friendly solutions for sharing critical health-related information," says Johnsen. (Photo: Private).

Given today's pressures on healthcare professionals and growing efficiency demands, initiatives like these could be crucial in meeting future primary healthcare needs in Norway.

"In my practice as a GP, I've often wished for easier access to information from municipal and specialist healthcare services. Due to a lack of adequate solutions currently available, we felt responsible for initiating this project," says Tor Magne Johnsen, CEO and co-founder of Relevio.

It remains to be seen who will take the lead and whether municipalities and general practitioners, together with health technology companies, can achieve the vision of seamless, secure, and user-friendly information sharing.

Footnote: This study was financially supported by DistriktForsk/Trøndelag County Council.