e-Health

What is e-Health?

E-Health refers to using electronic (“e”) technology — computerization, digitization, the Internet — for improving or managing your health.

Typically, you can access e-Health tools directly, for example, through an app on your smartphone or an interactive forum on a web site. E-Health can also refer to technology tools that providers use to reach patients.

The popularity of these tools isn’t surprising. Nearly everything you do that affects your health or the health of your family members takes place outside of the doctor’s office or hospital. While most people recognize the importance of their doctors in health decisions, they also talk to many others about their health concerns, including friends or family or someone with a similar issue whom they find on the web.

Types of e-Health Tools

E-health lets you take control of your own health. Many types of e-health tools—such as personal health records and mobile health applications—are becoming available to help you manage and improve health for yourself, your family, and your community.

Learn about e-Health tools

Accessing Your Health Information

You have the right to receive copies of your health information from your doctor and from other providers, such as physical therapists and social workers. If your health care provider keeps your records electronically, you have a right to receive them in either electronic or paper form.

Learn about your rights

E-Health for Communities

Beyond providing tools to help individuals manage their health, the expansion in e-Health is causing growth in the use of information to understand and improve the health of our communities, which in turn helps us better understand and improve the health of individuals.

E-Health in communities