Innovative Interventions in Cross-Border Public Health Centers Project: Development and Future Perspectives

Professor John Kyriopoulos MD, MPH, MSc, PhD

Department of Health Economics

National School of Public Health Economics

National Schoolof Public Health

Co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund of the Social Fund of the European Union 75%

The Cross-border Public Health Centers (CBPHCs) in the Prefectures

of Kilkis, Drama and Xanthi have been established within the

framework of the INTERREG IIIA Programme with major aim the

achievement of sustainable development and European integration.

Specifically, the project “Establishment of the Kilkis Cross-border

Public Health Centre” belongs to the INTERREG III/ Neighbouring

Programme Greece-FYROM, Measure 3.2 (Protection of Public

Health). The projects “Establishment of the Drama Cross-border

Public Health Centre” and “Establishment of the Xanthi Cros-border

Public Health Centre” are part of the Community Initiative INTERREG

III/ Greece-Bulgaria Measure 3.1 (Improvement of quality of life).

The projects “Establishment of Cross-border Public Health

Centers” have been developed and co-financed by 75% by the

European Regional Development Fund of the European Social

Fund of the European Union 75% (ERDF) and by 25% by the

Greek State.

The Kilkis, Drama and Xanthi CBPHC projects have been

successfully completed at the end of 2008.

The selected prefectures for establishing the CBPHCs have

been:

for Greece

•Kilkis and Pella (Central Macedonia)

•Drama (Eastern Macedonia)

•Xanthi (Thrace)

for Bulgaria

•Smolyan

•Blagoevgard

Note: FYROM has also selected Gevgeli, Star Dorian and

Bogoritsa.

The main target of CBPHCs project is to improve the

quality of life of the population by developing the

collaboration and promotion of common strategies

among the border health authorities of neighbouring

countries.

Facilitation of cross-border mobility of population, goods and

livestock

Scientific study and implementation of solutions for

environmental issues, such as water air and soil pollution

Development of joint strategies for the prevention and control of

health risks

Improvement of cross-border health services infrastructure

Improvement of information in order to motivate citizens to use

local health services

Enhancement of a cross-border collaboration for the effective

promotion of public health

The major goals of the CBPHCs projects being achieved:

1. Expansion and renovation of the existing

facilities

2. Hotel equipment supply

3. Office equipment supply

4. Signposting supply

5. Laboratory – medical equipment supply

6. Other equipment supply

The CBPHCs project has implemented several actions and sub-projects, such as:

7. Vehicle supply

8. Hardware supply

9. Scientific Support

10. Publicity Project

11. Publications, Research studies and

Leaflet Production

The presentation focuses on the development of

Information Technology Systems, Software development

and supply within the structure of the CBPHCs project.

Infokiosk supply

Network Portal

Geographical System Information (G.I.S.)

Healthmeter- Development of Medical

Questionnaire System

Electronic Patient Record

The actions taken have included:

Main goals of the innovative interventions are:

to facilitate the work of health professionals

to highlight the priorities in health policy

to supply useful tools for the patient management

to inform the citizens about available treatments

and issues regarding health promotion

Infokiosk

Several Infokiosks have been set up at central points in the

Prefectures of Kilkis, Drama and Xanthi, as well as in

Athens and are accessible by all citizens. The Infokiosks

are user friendly (touch screen) and much easier than a

bank ATM.

The information up-to-date and scientifically accurate, has been divided in:

•Health Issues•Health services

The information distributed through Infokiosk

contributes to:

Protection from diseases and several health

risks

Health promotion

Improvement of the general health status by

adopting healthy practices in life style.

Network Portal

The portal www.dikedy.gr performs as an important

information, communication and scientific cooperation

data base on health issues and health services.

Introduction, development and outcomes of the CBPHCs

project

Activities related to the CBPHCs project

Newsletters

E-forum

Professionals involved in CBPHCs project

Scientific Publications

Research Studies

Leaflets

Electronic Patient Record (in Greek)

Also the Network Portal provides information on:

Geographical Information System (G.I.S)

Formulation and motivation of joint strategies for the

improvement of health services and the health status,

through the development and implementation of the

Geographical Information System (G.I.S).

Current health services situation

Health status of the population

Major risk factors

Formulation of policies, methods and priorities for the

improvement of the quality of health services

The G.I.S. collects and records data about:

Additionally, G.I.S. provides information on:

Demographic data

Epidemiological data (morbidity, mortality)

Health Services and distribution

Health status (self-defined)

Service utilization

Provider choice

Responsiveness of local health services

Healthmeter –Development of Medical Questionnaire System

The Healthmeter implemented in the CBPHC of the Prefecture of

Drama (Kato Nevrokopi Health Center) includes an electronic

questionnaire, in which the personal health status of the user is

portrayed by answering to simple and daily questions.

The questions, though simple, are based on current scientific

information on health promotion with respect to user’s health.

Moreover, the aim of the Healthmeter is to raise awareness and to

educate the users to care more for personal health matters.

The use of Healthmeter aims:

To highlight the most significant health problems

and to illustrate the physical and mental situation of

the population.

To form a brief but, also, clear representation,

which aims to the improvement of the health status

and health promotion.

To detect public health problems.

Electronic Patient Record

The Electronic Patient Record is implemented in the CBPHC

of the Prefecture of Xanthi and is in used by authorized

health professionals of the Echinos Health Center. It is a

data base used in combination with information gathered

from the Internet in order to facilitate decision making within

the principle of evidence-based medicine.

Personal data

Medical history

Vaccinations

Visits

Diagnoses

Prescriptions

The Electronic Patient Record contains:

Future Perspectives of the innovative interventions of the CBPHCs project

Continuous improvement of the IT System implemented in CBPHCs project

Expansion of the existing network and know-how exchange to the CBPHCs of Prefectures of Serres, Evros, Florina and Ioannina, which were established within the framework of the programme INTERREG II, 4 Cross-border Public Health Centres

Strengthening of the cross-border collaboration among the neighbouring countries of the Balkan Peninsula

Persistence on improving the health status and the quality of life of the population of the border regions through the expansion of information and education regarding health issues.

Thank you for your attention!