Once a ubiquitous healthcare service is in place, the system will always be 'on'; working anytime and anywhere. If the vision of the UHIS (Ubiquitous Healthcare Information System) is to achieve better health and well-being for the general population, the key goals must be to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the system by making services more accessible, affordable, and accountable. For this vision to be achieved, new legislation and policies need to be implemented. New policies must be conducive to the promotion of u-healthcare practices. Without supporting legislation, all discussion will only be theoretical. We will still have a long way to go before a fully ubiquitous healthcare system is realized.

Potential benefits of u-healthcare

• Availability and accessibility of healthcare knowledge and expertise
• Availability and accessibility of quality healthcare on a more equitable basis to underserved rural and urban areas
• Comprehensive availability of ubiquitous clinical services, regardless of time, specialty, and geographical location
• Availability of ubiquitous healthcare services for new and alternative (non-invasive) medical procedures
• Savings for ubiquitous healthcare service providers and patients in procedural, travel, and claim processing costs
• Reduced use of traditional emergency services
• Improved non-emergency services
• Decreased waiting time for nonemergency services
• Greater awareness of services among rural and remote residents and caregivers
• Timely accessibility of critical information in the event of emergencies

 

The road ahead

If these benefits are going to be realized, a gradual shift from the traditional healthcare delivery system to ubiquitous forms of healthcare is necessary. Thus, the evolution of ubiquitous healthcare concepts, infrastructure, technologies, applications, interfaces, and strategies all contribute to the paradigm shift from tethered to ubiquitous wellness. Ubiquitous healthcare concepts and strategies are vital for healthcare reform. In other words, ubiquitous healthcare technology can provide alternative means of delivering care to patients. Ubiquitous healthcare infrastructure offers convenient mechanisms for transmitting medical information to residents, laypeople, and healthcare workers. Moreover, ubiquitous healthcare methods and strategies encourage innovation in patientoriented medical intervention. They also save resources by focusing on prevention and place greater emphasis on selfcare.

Ubiquitous healthcare can also improve a nation's healthcare infrastructure, financing, administration and management. Information can also be made to flow more freely, leading to reduced administrative costs. A more efficient system will lower the costs of medical companies, making the whole system more affordable and effective. Healthcare consumers will access data from various sources and receive medical information in real time. Making information available to healthcare consumers will help them plan their own treatment regimens and consult with other patients. This will enhance their trust and comfort in the system. It also provides a more direct link between patients and professionals, allowing providers to improve their service based on the wishes of consumers. All of this will create a climate where health care providers should choose ubiquitous healthcare. A new system will allow our healthcare providers to work more effectively at providing quality care to patients.