Developing Health Surveillance Networks: An Adaptive Approach

The research literature on public health information and communication networks shows enormous promise and tremendous obstacles. There is a great deal of evidence to suggest that when electronic health information systems are widely employed, and clinical information is easily shared, trained individuals can track and monitor health status, and avert acute events that can potentially affect an individual or a population. However, the research literature also leaves unresolved important questions about effectiveness versus efficacy: that is, whether health information sharing can achieve compliance on a large scale, particularly across social, political, economic and geographic boundaries. For this reason, we propose adaptive healthcare information networks to collect, process and disseminate health information and reduce medical errors. This research assesses existing electronic health monitoring initiatives in the United States and worldwide, and discusses their progress and limitations. It identifies how healthcare information networks could be improved by the application of innovative theories and technologies, such as complex adaptive theory, expert systems and grid technology.