Applying information and communication technologies to enable digital health interventions to prevent disease and improve quality of life is not a new concept. However, in the face of global challenges related to aging, child morbidity and mortality, epidemics and pandemics, high costs, and the impact of poverty and racial discrimination on access to health care, digital health platforms, health systems, and related technologies continue to grow in importance.

Government health insurance programs such as the Affordable Care Act (ACA) have also led to new developments in digital health. Despite the technical challenges when the ACA was originally launched, the goals of the ACA included improving the quality of health care through technology. For example, this included improving the quality of EHRs and computer simulations used to track health care costs. The use of technology and data to improve patient health and quality of care is called health informatics. It allows health professionals to evaluate new programs, look for areas of improvement in the health sector, and integrate new technologies into medicine.

Digital tools give providers a more holistic view of patients' health through access to data and greater control over their health. Digital health offers real opportunities to improve medical outcomes and improve efficiency. These technologies can empower consumers to make more informed decisions about their own health and provide new opportunities to facilitate prevention, early diagnosis of life-threatening diseases, and treatment of chronic diseases outside of traditional health care settings.

One of the most obvious benefits resulting from the deployment of digital healthcare software is the centralization of patient information. Patient records, medical bulletins, patient histories, physician instructions, progress reports - all of the information contained in these documents is critical to the success of the patient's treatment and outcome. Manually entering patient information is time-consuming and can be prone to errors, which are common problems for small businesses. Storing paper files requires resources and takes up physical space. Traditionally, accessing a patient's files in the old days meant going through the files and checking each folder individually, which also took time. A digital healthcare solution simplifies the process of registering and categorizing patient information while significantly reducing errors. This makes accessing information seamless and seamless. This is necessary now, as all healthcare professionals tasked with caring for patients need immediate and reliable access to patient data, be they doctors, nurses, therapists, nutritionists.

While all the players believe that the big tech companies will be the driving force in the development of digital health ecosystems, the big tech players are not in the top category. Rather, they see payers, digital health startups, and healthcare providers at the top. Interestingly, this view reflects the fact that payers, digital health startups, and healthcare providers are the only players that place themselves in the top tier.

Turning the latest data, research and evidence into action: This means promoting standards for data interoperability and sharing, and supporting the implementation of digital solutions that support informed decision-making. Expanding knowledge through scientific communities of practice: Thanks to new technologies and no longer limited by the need for physical meetings or printed peer review journals, WHO brings together the voices of leading experts on topics of relevance to clinical practice and public health. Systematic assessment and linking of country needs to the innovation proposition: Too often in global health, products are developed on the principle of “if you build it, they will use it”. This approach has failed time and time again. WHO takes a proactive, systematic approach to identify, promote, co-develop and scale innovations based on country needs.

Regards,

Kathleen Stafford

Managing Editor

Journal of Healthcare Communications