title: The empowerment and quality health value propositions of e-health.
abstract: E-health, as well as its value and benefits, has been characterized as a concept defined in various ways depending on intended audience and use. Attempts to define, characterize and appreciate e-health inadvertently portray it as something out of main stream academia; thus, undermining the relevance and importance of the transformation capabilities of e-health on the practice of health care from the individual and organizational perspectives. In order to contribute towards an understanding and appreciation of e-health as a main stream concept, we propose the use of existing models, theories and principles in support of e-health. Specifically, the empowerment theory and the principles of quality health will be used to discuss the value proposition of e-health. An understanding of the e-health value proposition is important, because it helps organizations to develop a shared vision and context, which in turn keeps organizations focused and realistic as they expend resources and adopt e-health. It also helps e-health consumers understand what is possible and impossible, and how they can best participate in e-health for the betterment of their health and health care.
authors.affiliation: School of Information Technology and Engineering, University of Ottawa, B111-161 Louis Pasteur, Ottawa ON K1N 6N5, Canada.
authors.forename: Derek A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Asoh
authors.forename: Patrick A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Rivers
mesh_terms: D057286:Electronic Health Records; D020407:Internet; D008490:Medical Informatics; D011216:Practice Management, Medical; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D017751:Safety Management