A new challenge: The training of eHealth professionals, innovative actors of eHealth

Dear Sir

There is a burden of ageing population on health provision in industrialised countries. At the same time, internet, game consoles and all the derived digital tools, have revolutionised our lives. Technological developments used for these everyday tools have been quickly put to use in the field of health provision, explaining the exponential growth of what is called eHealth. In the field of gerontology, successes made possible by these technological advances have become legion, opening a particular field of eHealth allowing, for instance, rehabilitation in virtual spaces or with serious games or development of smart Zimmer frames. A complete field dedicated to monitoring is also emerging: connected pedometers or blood pressure monitors, smart clothes, mobile applications, telemedicine, etc.

The hospital, in the conventional sense of the term, seems to gradually disappear in favour of the development of a hospital ‘at-home’. This notion is based on these self-monitoring technologies, but mainly on the development of these communicating tools such as telecare and online support. Indeed, these new technologies challenge the daily medical practice and create new relationships with patients. These changes lead to the emergence of new needs and it is important to clarify the range of competences of the personnel who will receive and analyse these data in order to take medical decisions: this creates innovative actors who will need to be trained.

In the same way, even if a patient’s daily life is invaded by these new technologies, other health professionals should not feel helpless in the face of these innovative techniques for practising their profession (Wyatt & Sullivan 2005). Otherwise, we run the risk of disinvestment or withdrawal (Booth 2006). Therefore, it appears essential to provide help and support to staff to introduce these changes. The primordial issue therefore appears to be the training of these new eHealth professionals in close collaboration with industrialists and providers of new eHealth services. It also requires the presence of teachers and trainers able to meet the challenges they face in ensuring a skilled and educated workforce of new professionals.

In conclusion, we need to be aware of the problem. It is time to move from a system based on individual skills in this innovative field to a formal recognised and effective system. This seems to be the only way to ensure that the adaptation of the area of health provision to these new technologies do not come at the expense of its actors.

Declaration of interest: No conflicts of interest or competing financial interests exist. I state that this letter is being submitted for publication.