Table 1.
Typology of HIT used in gerontology and geriatrics
| Type of HIT N=112 |
Core functionalities | Rationale–goals–potential interest | Other denominations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Telecare 56 articles (50%) |
Enables remote diagnoses, monitors patient health status, provides case management or rehabilitation | ▸ Shift in care from hospitals to ambulatory settings ▸ Response to the shortage of professionals ▸ Decreased impact of remoteness ▸ Availability of medical and specialized expertise ▸ Improved working conditions ▸ Avoidance of clinician travel time ▸ Optimal use of nurses’ time |
Teleconsultation, telemonitoring, remote case management, telerehabilitation |
| EHR 14 articles (12.5%) |
Provides a structured repository of patient medical information generated by one or more encounters—without a decision-support system | ▸ Access to patient information ▸ Collaboration and coordination among team members ▸ Access to patient information from multiple locations ▸ Database of structured and complete information ▸ Patient self-management |
EHR, electronic nursing record, computerized patient care record, electronic medical record, personal health records, electronic geriatric assessment tools, e-prescribing, computer generated reports/summaries, chronic disease registries without DSS |
| DSS 15 articles (13.4%) |
Guides healthcare professionals in their decision making | ▸ Better quality and safety of care (eg, avoiding adverse drug events) ▸ Avoidance of failures to apply evidence-based medicine ▸ Standardized care |
Electronic reminders/alerts, computerized order entry with DSS, computerized monitoring of drug levels, electronic guidelines, electronic care plan development, chronic disease registries with DSS (reminders, computerized clinical guidelines, ordering guidance, etc) |
| Web-based packages and social media for patients/family caregivers 13 articles (11.6%) |
Provides health information/support for patients/family caregivers by telephone, telecomputing, web-based information | ▸ Access to scientific information ▸ Patient self-management ▸ Increased coping strategies ▸ May break isolation ▸ Alleviate family burden and anxiety |
Web-based health information, health web sites, e-health web portals, caregiver support online |
| Assistive information technology 14 articles (12.5%) |
Helps an individual to perform a task safely | ▸ Independent living for elderly people ▸ Access to assistance for patients in the context of insufficiently available human/financial resources ▸ Improved safety ▸ Improved quality of life, well-being for patients |
Smart home, gerontechnology, domotics, robotic technology (service/assistant robots, robotic pets), automated pill dispensers, PDA |
DSS, decision support systems; EHR, electronic health records; HIT, health information technology; PDA, personal digital assistant.