UK E-HEALTH ASSOCIATION

UK non-profit body for developing Ehealth and Telecare

EHEALTH CONSULTANTS, ROYAL COLLEGES, NHS TRUSTS, NHS DIRECT, NHS INFORMATION AUTHORITY, HOUSING ASSOCIATIONS, HEALTH AUTHORITIES, HEALTH ECONOMIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

The UK eHealth Association, established in April 1999 as the UK Telemedicine Association, is a non-profit making company limited by guarantee and governed by a Board of Trustees. It has been formed to represent organisations and individuals interested in the development of eHealth in the UK. Currently, there are approximately 100+ members representing the wide scope of stakeholders in the UK health market. These include:

• Medical service providers and medical equipment manufacturers, from multi-nationals to single man operations
• User organisations, such as NHS Trusts, Health Economies, NHS Direct and the NHS Information Authority, local government, housing associations and health authorities
• Professional bodies, for example Royal Colleges, and eHealth consultants
• Individuals and students

REMOTE CARE, EHEALTH EDUCATION, TELECARE, HOME TELEHEALTH, EHEALTH RESEARCH, EHEALTH POLICY, EHEALTH WORKSHOPS, TELEMEDICINE AND BIOTERRORISM

The Association aims to become the national body promoting eHealth by: 

• promoting eHealth research and eHealth education
• promoting the development of an eHealth policy and eHealth standards
• encouraging the adoption of uniform standards and practice
• ensuring the recognition by the authorities of the need to protect the intellectual property rights developed in the industry
• interacting with eHealth associations and related bodies in other countries
• public relations, publishing member best practice applications, media interviews, magazine editorials

The formal benefits of membership include:

• networking with others interested in telemedicine and telecare
• accessing leading edge information
• being part of an organisation with the authority to act as the voice for UK eHealth
• influencing policy within the UK and internationally via our links with other international and national associations
• providing help and sources of advice on eHealth, telemedicine and telecare
• linking / advising and influencing Government agencies with a key role in eHealth
• 2003 programme of events being finalised to include AGM, regional roadshows, education conferences, networking dinners, annual conference & exhibition, eHealth workshops, new special interest groups

The UK eHealth Association has an active Technical Special Interest Group (SIG) involved with the technical issues of telecommunications and connectivity of medical devices, transmission of images, international standards and quality assurance of service for remote care and communications. Other Special Interest Groups are being formed for Home TeleHealth, Nursing, and Military/Bioterrorism.

The Association runs:

• Bi-monthly meetings
• Networking lunches & dinners
• Annual conference & exhibition
• AGM
• Regional meetings/workshops