The EFMI STC 2017 was jointly organised by the European Federation for Medical Informatics (EFMI) and the Israelian Association for Medical Informatics (ILAMI). The aim of EFMI Special Topic Conferences is to provide a forum for discussing achievements and actual experiences on specific topics in medical informatics. STCs are organised in close collaboration with EFMI Working Groups and the national society of the hosting country.

Carrying on the series of EFMI Special Topic Conferences started in 2001 in Bucharest, under the presidency of Assa Reichert and Rolf Engelbrecht, and it is of great appreciation to his lifetime achievements, that we hold EFMI STC 2017 in Israel in memory of Assa Reichert. EFMI STC 2017 is one of the key European events in the common sphere of medicine and informatics in this year. Its major goal is to increase interaction and collaboration between the stakeholder groups from both health and ICT across, but not limited to, Europe. The 2017 event has been actively supported by the EFMI Working Groups “Health Information Management Europe (HIME)”, “Education (EDU)”, and “Portable Personal Devices (PPD)”.

The theme of STC 2017 is “The practice of patient centered care: Empowering and engaging patients in the digital era”. STC 2017 provides a platform for researchers, practitioners, decision makers and entrepreneurs to discuss ways for sustainable and inclusive innovations aimed at patient's/consumer's uptake, engagement and empowerment. Realising the potential of consumers' eHealth products (electronic tools for patients, informal caregivers and healthy consumers) in improving health care delivery and outcomes requires practitioners and designers to take account of existing diversity among users. This diversity contributes to differential access, uptake, and benefits derived from emerging eHealth technologies.

STC 2017 brings experience, innovation, new concepts and actual research and development into a constructive discussion resulting in a partnership for modernisation. Success stories but also failures which provide a basis for further improvement of health information systems' applications will be presented.

This publication reflects the objective of the conference to highlight research and development supporting the use of information and communication technology (eHealth) at national, regional, and also at international level. It results in requirements for national and regional solutions for medical informatics and health information management.

ILAMI was founded in 1983. Israel is a long standing member of the European Federation for Medical Informatics. ILAMI is representing Israel in EFMI and organised MIE1993 in Jerusalem.

Fostering partnerships for modernisation with this important country is another goal of this STC 2017. Efficient and effective delivery of health care requires accurate and relevant methodologies, e.g. patient-centered clinical data, its communication and application in medical decision support. This publication enables some insight in the use of information and communication technology in different countries. It is designed to have a high relevance in practice and further research.

The editors would like to thank all the authors for their excellent work as well as the reviewers for lending their expertise to the conference, thereby contributing to the final achievements. Furthermore, they are indebted for sponsoring the publication of the proceedings. Final thanks are dedicated to Carina Gutharz, who collaboratively organised the review processes.

Rolf Engelbrecht, Ran Balicer, Mira Hercigonja-Szekeres (Editors)