CONNECTING NETWORKS

Mental health along with physical health, that an individual, under normal conditions, has control over, involves a sense of individual responsibility. The empowering nature that being aware of your health provides is key. Let’s just say you can’t force someone to be in a better space mentally, or physically for that matter, without the individual deciding to be open to a different perspective. Like how informatics, when interoperable, integrates a common understanding of a language; communication is focused on patient-centered care. Equal responsibility of care comes from communication and education behind a topic to the point that brings an understanding. Health is about integrating a unique balance of physical and emotional wellbeing, which by all chance to us in this lifetime, can benefit through digital advances. The question is how can informatics and health information exchange positively impact your mental and physical health? The answer may lay within proper adoption and implementation of technology that allows patient participation in their personal health, such as patient portals, financial support, smart devices and educational resources.