As the relevance of eHealth in the provision of healthcare is rapidly increasing, decision makers require information to help them decide which innovations are worthwhile. Economic evaluation of healthcare technologies may provide suitable methods to assess cost and outcomes of eHealth in a comparative fashion, however, the idiosyncrasies of eHealth may pose methodological challenges that need to be addressed adequately.
Based on a systematic review of the methodological literature in the field, this research report prepared by Christian Boehler provides first methodological recommendations for the economic evaluation of eHealth in Austria. In addition, the report summarizes, on an exemplary basis, how eHealth applications are being identified, scaled up and implemented for routine use elsewhere in Europe, with a particular view on related decision-making processes.