Stakeholders in the digital health field include patients, practitioners, researchers, application developers, and medical device manufacturers and distributors. Digital healthcare plays an increasingly important role in healthcare today.
Terms related to digital health include health information technology (health IT), healthcare tools, health analytics, healthcare informatics, hospital IT and medical technology.
The application of information and communications technology to provide digital health interventions to prevent disease and improve quality of life isn't a new concept. However, in the face of global concerns -- related to aging, child illness and mortality, epidemics and pandemics, high costs, and the effects of poverty and racial discrimination on access to healthcare -- digital health platforms, health systems and related technology continue to grow in importance and to evolve.
Further fanning the flames of change, the COVID-19 pandemic has helped further fuel the ongoing digital transformation in healthcare. According to Forrester Research, the most impactful COVID-19 technologies include patient-facing tools, such as online symptom checkers, patient portals, remote patient monitoring tools and telehealth.
Through digital health, patients can access information about their own health as well as have a stronger relationship with their provider. For example, many hospital systems have digital health portals where patients can message their providers and receive answers back relatively quickly, rather than needing to wait for their next appointment. With digital health portals, patients can also meet with their doctors via video chat, which is especially important during the COVID-19 pandemic. Providers can provide real time updates to their patients regarding lab work and testing all without the patient needing to come into the office.
Using digital health technologies, patients can actively manage their own health and monitor any irregularities that they may experience. Through digital health, patients also have access to information related to the following:
- Disease prevention
- Physical therapy
- Occupational therapy
The amount of education individuals have access to because of digital health is immense and can lead to lifestyle modifications for patients who may be at risk for common diseases, such as heart disease or diabetes. Physical and occupational therapy can also be achieved through digital health platforms which are paramount to a patient’s recovery.
Few industries have experienced the level of disruption felt by the digital transformation of the healthcare system. It wasn’t long ago the phrase “digital health” didn’t exist. Yet today, providing digital health solutions is not only a standard service, it’s a market differentiator.
Health tech startups are continually emerging and healthcare companies often team up with technology innovators to deliver innovative solutions before their competition.
The scope of digital health services is vast, including both patient-facing technologies and services for healthcare professionals such as physicians, researchers, facility administrators, and more. Far from a COVID-19 pandemic trend, healthcare tech is just getting started.
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