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Building capacity to use interoperable digital health solutions – The XpanDH project kicks off
21 February 2023
EHMA is pleased to announce the start of a new project of which we are consortium partner, XpanDH – Expanding Digital Health through a pan-European Electronic Health Record exchange format based Ecosystem, funded by the Horizon Europe Framework Programme. With a consortium of 26 partners and 1 associate partner from 12 European countries, the project will mobilise and build capacity in individuals and organisations to create, adapt and explore the purposeful use of interoperable digital health solutions based on a shared adoption of the European Electronic Health Records Exchange format across Europe. Through this project, health and care can count on added value and benefit from greater health data exchange. From EHMA’s side, we will support stakeholder engagement, through a network of networks approach, as well as communications and dissemination activities to ensure the health management ecosystem is informed about the achievements of this project.
We are pleased to announce the start of a new EU-funded project, XpanDH, ‘Expanding Digital Health through a pan-European Electronic Health Record exchange format based Ecosystem’. With a consortium of 26 partners and 1 associate partner from 12 European countries, the project will mobilise and build capacity in individuals and organisations to create, adapt and explore the purposeful use of interoperable digital health solutions based on a shared adoption of the European Electronic Health Records Exchange format (EEHRxF) across Europe. XpanDH will thrive on past and ongoing eHealth interoperability projects and services through digital health data activism and strong patient engagement for the successful realisation of the European Health Data Space (EHDS).
The project will concentrate on leveraging an established network of networks and a vibrant ecosystem to support the adoption of the European Electronic Health Record Exchange format. This will ensure that the digital health actors involved are motivated, inspired and supported to advance to concrete adoption of the EEHRxF by guidance and real examples organised as a collection of tools, resources, and technologies that are used to enable interoperability between different healthcare systems and applications.
Interoperability in healthcare refers to the ability of different healthcare information systems and technologies to communicate, exchange, and use data seamlessly across organisational, vendor, and geographic boundaries. The project pursues the goal of maturing and accelerating a sustainable and scalable interoperability environment in Europe for digital health innovations based on the EEHRxF, involving both the supply and demand sides of healthcare provision.
EHMA is a consortium partner in this project and we will be involved in supporting stakeholder engagement by creating guides for users, health professionals, patients, health systems; and expanding the networks around XpanDH adoption domains. Further, we will support communication and dissemination activities to distribute technical and public policy and practice information. Our involvement will ensure that the health management ecosystem can easily source support to advance the concrete use of EEHRxF-embedded digital health solutions.
The project formally kicked-off with a two-day meeting in Lisbon, Portugal on 15-16 February 2023 and will continue for two years. During the meeting, the partners went through all the tasks, activities and phases of work and planned immediate actions. Prof Henrique Martins, MD of ISCTE Knowledge and Innovation Centre, Coordinator of XpanDH, stated “…the development of X-bundles will benefit all European citizens who use MyHealth@EU services, which currently features prescription/eDispensation, patient summaries and, in the near future, laboratory reports, imageology and hospitals discharge letters, as stated in EEHRxF specifications”. Together, the digital health partners involved will bring the much needed change in the health data domain to ensure better care for all.
READ THE PRESS RELEASEFunded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not reflect those of the European Union or HaDEA. Neither the European Union nor HaDEA can be held responsible for them.
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What our Members say
I have been active in EHMA since the first years of the '90s and I have seen its evolution from a small association of members interested in sharing knowledge on health management practices to the current status of reference and advisory key player for EU, health systems and organisations, stakeholders associations, industry and universities. EHMA is now a unique knowledge hub, policy advisor, community of practice and network of best in class organisations involved in health policy and management. A place where health managers can build their competences, policy-makers and stakeholder associations envision how to implement and sustain change through health management, industry leaders understand how to engage more effectively with health organisations and systems. The right place to nurture and grow health management capabilities and capacity for every stakeholder of health systems.
Prof. Federico Lega, University of Milan, Italy
Health management has a crucial function in shaping public health and health system challenges. The Medical University of Varna, Bulgaria had success in collaborating with EHMA on EU-funded projects that has resourced us to create new health management competencies for the future workforce. In addition to all classical definitions, health management is a science dealing with individuals, groups, and society at large. It is an art contributing to the beauty of our lives and an interactive communication process at all levels of institutions and human energy. I have also had the pleasure to chair the South Eastern European Special Interest Group which gives members a space to discuss and tools to address how health systems are managed in our regions.
Prof. Todorka Kostadinova, Medical University of Varna, Bulgaria
I enjoy the high level of interaction and engagement in EHMA’s activities, in particular during the annual conference where the panel discussions are rich and well prepared. As a hospital manager and professor of health management, EHMA motivates and inspires me to be creative. You go back home feeling energised from seeing old friends and making new connections, as well as being convinced of serving as EHMA’s ambassador. It’s a strong feeling of interdisciplinary engagement, but it also feels like being part of family-like community.
Prof. Sandra C. Buttigieg, University of Malta, Malta
EHMA is a pre-eminent organisation for everyone working in planning, managing and delivering health services across Europe. As a long standing member of EHMA I have always been impressed by the vibrant community of managers, researchers and academics it has created and by the many opportunities for sharing knowledge and funding opportunities it has brought to its members. Its international scope is impressive and its impact is often felt in management and research across European and national health systems.
Prof. Axel Kaehne, Edge Hill University, UK
Health workforce has become more essential in operating, managing and maintaining health systems lately, particularly in crisis and emergency situations. European healthcare professions and the workforce need to be high on the agenda of managers and decision makers. The Health Services Management Training Centre, Semmelweis University in Hungary is a longstanding EHMA member, because it connects us with collaborators and experts, with whom we can have complex debates, from whom we can learn and at the end find solutions in various challenging fields of healthcare management.
Dr Eszter Kovács, Health Services Management Training Centre, Semmelweis University, Hungary
As a hospital administrator and health management professor, I see on a daily basis that the healthcare challenges require talented and skilled managers to transform it. the EHMA membership has been beneficial to bring healthcare management research and education to the demanding healthcare services world, promoting healthcare management competencies and knowledge creation.
Dr Alexandre Lourenco, APAH - Association of Portuguese Hospital Managers, Portugal
Many healthcare systems in Europe and beyond are facing similar challenges which require innovative and creative solutions. EHMA’s annual conference, webinars, Programme Directors’ group and other activities and resources provide incredible opportunities for networking, connecting and sharing experiences. A distinct feature of EHMA is the diversity of members with representation from many countries, sectors and different communities of practice – academic, policy-makers, practitioners, managers, leaders and students. The annual conference is a highlight in the calendar year, offering a friendly, fun and learningful environment for emerging and established members to engage, collaborate and meet up with old and new friends. I am proud to be a member of the EHMA Board.
Prof. Ann Mahon, University of Manchester, UK
Society evolution, pandemics and ageing modify health needs. So, health policies and services are to change dramatically. EHMA, through webinars, workshops and annual conference provides an excellent insight to a professional changing world, favouring closeness to management innovation and the protagonists of these changes. As a primary care services’ manager, participating in EHMA activities is really worth it and allows to involve oneself in the innovation processes.
Dr Antoni Peris Grao, Consorci Castelldefels Agents de Salut (CASAP), Spain