Researchers' advice for better healthcare services: Listen to the patient!

Taking the patient's experiences, needs, and wishes into account results in individually tailored treatment. Patients are more satisfied.

Researchers believe it is possible to improve healthcare services by listening more to patients. 

It should also be easier to share health information between systems. This will lead to better treatment and more efficient use of resources.

This is the conclusion of a study by researchers at Helse Vest IKT and the Norwegian Centre for E-health Research. Two researchers at Nord University are part of the Valkyrie project at the Norwegian Centre for E-health Research.

Better collaboration for better health

Researchers in the Valkyrie project are developing a computer system that will make it easier for healthcare workers to collaborate across disciplines, especially in the field of mental health.

Many patients do not get enough help because of poor information flow between the municipal and specialist healthcare services.

By making it easier to share health information, the researchers hope the system will provide better services, improved quality of life, and fewer deaths.

Why patients' opinions matter

In the past, healthcare has often been driven by providers. Medical procedures and healthcare workers' assessments have been the primary focus. 

However, patients' own experiences and needs are crucial for good outcomes.

The Flipping healthcare study shows that standardised collection and sharing of patients' personal experiences make it easier to tailor treatment, especially when using electronic patient records.

“The result can be better-customised treatment, more satisfied patients, and more efficient use of resources,” says researcher Sonja Cassidy from the Department of Strategic ICT at Helse Vest IKT.

Easier sharing of patient information

It is important that healthcare professionals can easily access a patient's health information regardless of where the patient has previously been treated. This is shown in another study by the researchers.

In the Valkyrie project, researchers are developing a system that enables coordination without the physical exchange of medical records. This means that doctors and nurses receive the right information when they need it, regardless of where the patient was previously treated.

The system uses secure blockchain technology to control who has access to the data and where it is stored.

Patients can grant permission for each part of their information. This allows important encrypted information to be shared quickly and securely, which is especially important in emergency situations where every second counts.

Six ways to improve data sharing

How can healthcare organisations gain access to each other's electronic health records? Researchers have identified six methods in the new study.

Some data is stored locally at each institution. Other methods use centralised systems that collect all information in a single database. Experience shows that a hybrid model can be most effective.

“Although centralised systems may seem the simplest, experience from Denmark and Finland has shown that they can have major problems with usability, even after several years. This suggests that more flexible hybrid solutions may be better,” says researcher Øivind Skeidsvoll Solvang at Helse Vest IKT.

Challenges along the way

Healthcare workers do not always trust information from other sources. This can lead to duplication of effort and compromised patient safety.

The solution is user-friendly systems that provide reliable information.

To achieve this, healthcare workers must be involved in the development process and receive proper training and support, according to the researchers.

The patient at the centre

The study highlights the importance of digitising patients' experiences and involving them more in their treatment. Listening to patients and facilitating the sharing of health information is necessary.

The aim of the Valkyrie project is to provide healthcare workers with the tools they need to deliver the best possible treatment, regardless of where the patient has been treated.

References:

Solvang et al. Healthcare professionals’ cross-organizational access to electronic health records: A scoping review, International Journal of Medical Informatics, vol. 193, 2025. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2024.105688 

Cassidy et al. Flipping healthcare by including the patient perspective in integrated care pathway design: A scoping review, International Journal of Medical Informatics, vol. 192, 2024. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2024.105623.

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Read the Norwegian version of this article on forskning.no

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