Swiss eHealth Barometer 2021: Corona reduces the pace of digitalisation in healthcare
In times of crisis, healthcare professionals are increasingly resorting to analogue methods of transmitting data. On the other hand, telemedicine is experiencing an upswing in practices. Acceptance of the storage of health data is increasing among the population. In the medium term, the pandemic may yet prove to be a catalyst for digitisation in the Swiss healthcare system.
The Swiss eHealth Barometer 2021 shows that standardised exchange channels are increasingly being used in the crisis. For the exchange of information on the treatment of a patient, 78 percent of pharmacists use the fax machine, 77 percent of old people's homes and nursing homes and 76 percent of hospital doctors use the telephone. Nevertheless, the majority of all healthcare players support the systematic use of online forms for exchanging information with the authorities. However, there is room for improvement in the development of official standards for eHealth. Overall, electronic data is increasingly exchanged electronically within one's own healthcare organization. Also, more than a quarter (26%) of general practitioners state that they have provided care via telemedicine in the last three months. The same is true for 9 percent (+8 percentage points) of Spitex organizations. The Corona pandemic once again underscores the social trend toward digital solutions. Since the last survey, the trend of acceptance for electronic storage of health data within the population has risen by 13 percentage points to 70 percent ("rather/very" agree).
Installation SwissCovid app out of solidarity
93 percent of users of the SwissCovid app do this out of solidarity. 86 percent are "rather/fully" convinced that thanks to the storage of data only on the smartphone, the data is protected. This contrasts with 12 percent who have not installed the app due to data protection concerns. 31 percent of non-users say they are not even aware of the app. Thanks to data protection-compliant eHealth solutions that are suitable for everyday use, such as the SwissCovid app, the pandemic may also prove to be a catalyst for digitalisation in the Swiss healthcare system in the medium term.
Potential for improvement in the electronic patient dossier (EPD)
Despite the delayed introduction, some hospitals are gaining initial experience with the EPD. The Swiss eHealth Barometer 2021 shows that the use of the EPD is curbing the initial euphoria. Just under half (52%) of those responsible for IT in hospitals find the EPD a "rather/very good" thing - that is 17 percentage points less than in the last survey. Among other healthcare professionals, the EPD continues to be perceived as a mostly good thing. Awareness of the EPD among the population is increasing and approval of the solution is high. Overall, the EPD is in a critical introductory phase. Training courses could make an important and positive contribution here. This is confirmed by the survey: Three quarters of hospital doctors would like training in the area of eHealth for themselves or for their employees.
Press release Swiss eHealth Forum / gfs.bern
More detailed evaluations can be found here.
