The Nordic Way: Denmark’s EHR Approach and Regional Integration
摘要
The Nordic countries—Norway, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, and Iceland—are uniquely positioned to lead digital health innovation due to their shared characteristics, including high public trust, robust digital infrastructures, and the use of unique personal identification systems. This chapter examines the commonalities between the Nordic health systems and the evolution of digital health systems in Denmark, focusing on the development and digital maturity of Electronic Health Records (EHRs) within Danish hospitals. Denmark’s success is driven by public trust in data management, a cohesive healthcare system funded through public means, and the early adoption of a unique electronic ID system (CPR number). The country’s approach includes consensus-driven governance, the implementation of national communication standards, and an open market strategy that encourages innovation and competition. This chapter delves into the assessment of digital maturity in Danish hospitals, which demonstrated a high level of digital maturity in a system characterized by local autonomy and an open market for EHR solutions. The Nordic Health 2030 initiative underscores the region’s commitment to creating digitally enabled, sustainable health systems, with Denmark serving as a model. The potential establishment of a Nordic Health Data Space, aligned with the broader European Health Data Space (EHDS), further highlights the region’s leadership in digital health and digital maturity.