Can Technological Innovation Help to Close the CVD Evidence-Practice Gap?
There is growing interest in the potential of information technology (IT) to reduce human error and variation in patient care. A recent systematic review has investigated the impact of a wide range of health IT [16]. Three major benefits were found for quality of care (particularly in association with preventive care): increased adherence to guideline-based care; enhanced surveillance and monitoring; and decreased medication errors. Table 1 shows where health IT could be used to support the process of CVD risk assessment and management in primary care practices. The focus is on tailoring interventions to specific patients based on recorded data and thus providing personalised prevention.
