eHealth Initiative (eHI) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to drive improvement in the quality, safety, and efficiency of healthcare through information and technology. We believe that advances in medical technology, such as electronic health records, patient portals, mobile health applications, and telemedicine, have the potential to fundamentally transform healthcare for patients. To this end, eHealth Initiative is dedicated to identifying, researching, and sharing innovative uses of health information technology with healthcare providers, hospitals and health systems, insurance companies, patients, and other members of the healthcare system at large. In 2012, eHI brought together leading experts on health IT and cancer care as a National Council on Cancer and Technology. The group met frequently to identify, discuss, share, and learn about the ways health IT can be used to improve cancer care. The Council created the following guide to the types of tools and technologies that patients and their families, caregivers, and support networks can use to make understanding, treating, and coping with cancer a little bit easier. While not an exhaustive list of every tool out there, we feel that this guide provides a strong overview of the kinds of technology resources that are currently available. The guide is divided into five categories of tools:
Tools for Decision Making: Decision-making is often one of the most difficult aspects of cancer care. Multiple treatment and therapeutic options are typically available for a particular cancer, and preventative measures, such as self-examination, can raise questions about whether an individual should consult with their doctor. Resources for decision-making support patients in choosing the options most relevant to their individual care needs. Common decision-making resources include tools for risk assessment, self-examination and cancer prevention, identifying clinical trials, and selecting among treatment alternatives.
Tools for Education: Cancer is a highly complex disease, with causes that may not be readily apparent to most individuals. Tools for education support patients in learning about and understanding the underlying causes of cancer and its treatments. These tools offer glossaries, lists of common questions and answers, cancer facts, and links to other resources or content.
Tools for Information and Treatment Management: Once a patient begins treatment, the combined physical, emotional, and psychological effects can make coping with cancer almost impossible. Managing these effects, and keeping track of medications, appointments, test results, and other aspects of cancer care can be a tremendous undertaking. Tools for information and treatment management help patients input, store, and track personal information related to treatment.
Tools for Social Support: Not only is cancer a particularly frightening diagnosis, the symptoms and side effects of treatment can be debilitating. Tools for social support connect patients with family, friends, and others struggling with cancer to lend assistance during treatment, alleviate fears, and/or provide words of support and encouragement.
Tools for Lifestyle Management: Though there is no definitive way to prevent developing cancer, certain lifestyle choice can increase your risk. Tools for lifestyle management can help patients make healthy decisions that can prevent cancer, such as losing weight, exercising, or quitting smoking.
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