382
There is already a large number of medical apps on Apple’s App Store and
Google marketplace. Although many of them would probably need to be regarded
as medical devices, they rarely carry, for example, the CE mark that signifi es that
the product conforms with all European Union (EU) directives or EU regulations
that apply to it [ 103 , 104 ]. One of the main intentions of these regulations is to
prevent patients from the risks and potential harm that might overcome them from
apps that are not running the way they are intended.
Various healthcare systems in the developed countries put a major focus on high
quality of care that includes patients’ perspectives and outcomes as “modern” quality
of care indicators. Meanwhile regulatory authorities recommend PROMs assessments;
even value-based reimbursements that rely on PROMs assessment in the physician
offi ce have been implemented [ 5 , 105 – 107 ]. Software applications that integrate such
quality indicators are capable to assist in monitoring and management as they might
facilitate and improve the delivery process of the required information to the regulatory
authorities and other key stakeholders [ 29 ]. To encourage the acceptance of ePROMs
and IT solutions in rheumatology, it is necessary to actively promote the contribution
of the use of technologies to outcomes and obligations to all stakeholders [ 108 ].
Conclusion
PROMs supply information on health-related topics patients know best. Electronic
assessments of PROMs allow bringing the patient perspective into real-time clinical
routine care and facilitate patients to participate in their healthcare process immedi-
ately. The implementation of new technological developments has become more fea-
sible. Future systems will provide opportunities for automated integration of PROMs
tailored to individual needs. The broad adoption of new applications on mobile
devices and their connection to existing patient documentation systems might lead to
more frequent and continuous documentation of the key outcome measures and thus
to new possibilities for sustained implementation of treat to target and other patient
management concepts. New business models need to be developed to reimburse
ePROMs’ assessments apart from the physician visit. However, all stakeholders need
to align their interests and enhance their engagement in the multilateral partnership.
References
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