The broad scope of digital health includes categories such as mobile health (mHealth), health information technology (IT), wearable devices, telehealth and telemedicine, and personalized medicine.
From mobile medical apps and software that support the clinical decisions doctors make every day to artificial intelligence and machine learning, digital technology has been driving a revolution in health care. Digital health tools have the vast potential to improve our ability to accurately diagnose and treat disease and to enhance the delivery of health care for the individual.
Digital health technologies use computing platforms, connectivity, software, and sensors for health care and related uses. These technologies span a wide range of uses, from applications in general wellness to applications as a medical device. They include technologies intended for use as a medical product, in a medical product, as companion diagnostics, or as an adjunct to other medical products (devices, drugs, and biologics). They may also be used to develop or study medical products.
On this page:
- What are the benefits of digital health technologies?
- The FDA’s focus in digital health
- Who regulates mobile health apps?
What Are the Benefits of Digital Health Technologies?
Digital tools are giving providers a more holistic view of patient health through access to data and giving patients more control over their health. Digital health offers real opportunities to improve medical outcomes and enhance efficiency.
These technologies can empower consumers to make better-informed decisions about their own health and provide new options for facilitating prevention, early diagnosis of life-threatening diseases, and management of chronic conditions outside of traditional health care settings. Providers and other stakeholders are using digital health technologies in their efforts to:
- Reduce inefficiencies,
- Improve access,
- Reduce costs,
- Increase quality, and
- Make medicine more personalized for patients.
Patients and consumers can use digital health technologies to better manage and track their health and wellness-related activities.
The use of technologies, such as smart phones, social networks, and internet applications, is not only changing the way we communicate, but also providing innovative ways for us to monitor our health and well-being and giving us greater access to information. Together, these advancements are leading to a convergence of people, information, technology, and connectivity to improve health care and health outcomes.
The FDA’s Focus in Digital Health
Many medical devices now have the ability to connect to and communicate with other devices or systems. Devices that are already FDA approved, authorized, or cleared are being updated to add digital features. New types of devices that already have these capabilities are being explored.
Many stakeholders are involved in digital health activities, including patients, health care practitioners, researchers, traditional medical device industry firms, and firms new to the FDA regulatory requirements, such as mobile application developers.
The FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) is excited about these advances and the convergence of medical devices with connectivity and consumer technology. The following are topics in the digital health field on which the FDA has been working to provide clarity using practical approaches that balance benefits and risks:
- Software as a Medical Device (SaMD)
- Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML) in Software as a Medical Device
- Cybersecurity
- Device Software Functions, including Mobile Medical Applications
- Health IT
- Medical Device Data Systems
- Medical Device Interoperability
- Telemedicine
- Wireless Medical Devices
As another important step in promoting the advancement of digital health technology, CDRH has established the Digital Health Center of Excellence which seeks to empower digital health stakeholders to advance health care.
Who Regulates Mobile Health Apps?
If you are developing a mobile health app that collects, creates, or shares consumer information, use the tool on the Federal Trade Commission's website to find out when the FDA, Federal Trade Commission (FTC), or Office of Civil Rights (OCR) laws apply.
Which laws apply to my mobile health app?
For more information, see Device Software Functions, including Mobile Medical Applications.
FAQs
What is the meaning of digital health? ›
Digital health technologies use computing platforms, connectivity, software, and sensors for health care and related uses. These technologies span a wide range of uses, from applications in general wellness to applications as a medical device.
What is digital health quizlet? ›What is digital health? refers to the use of information technology/electronic communication tools, services and processes to deliver health care services or to facilitate better health.
What are some examples of digital health? ›- Social Media.
- Telemedicine.
- Data Analytics, Artificial Intelligence and Business Intelligence.
- Personalized and Precision Medicine.
- Wearables.
- Mobile Health Platforms.
- Electronic Medical Records.
- Health Information Exchange and Interoperability.
In addition to increasing access to health information for both providers and patients, digital health also enhances patient-doctor relationships, increases patient disease prevention methods, and creates a shift toward value-based care.
What is another term for digital health? ›A dominant concept in digital health appeared to be mobile health (mHealth), which is related to other concepts such as telehealth, eHealth, and artificial intelligence in healthcare.
What is digital health Review definition? ›Digital health, or digital healthcare, is a broad, multidisciplinary concept that includes concepts from an intersection between technology and healthcare. Digital health applies digital transformation to the healthcare field, incorporating software, hardware and services.
What is digital First health? ›Digital-first healthcare helps direct and allocate resources in a direction most effective for an individual patient. In 2022 and beyond, we expect to see this trend continue as companies develop more innovative ways for patients to stay connected to doctors without needing to travel to a medical facility.
What is a digital health study? ›Digital health encompasses a broad scope of tools that can improve health care, enable lifestyle change and create operational efficiencies. This includes digital solutions involving telemedicine and telehealth, mHealth, wearables, remote monitoring, apps and others.
How can I improve my digital health? ›- Use time management apps. ...
- Address and prevent eyestrain. ...
- Use mindfulness and digital well-being apps. ...
- Establish digital boundaries. ...
- Encourage employees to integrate activity into their workstations. ...
- Help employees unwind and disconnect. ...
- Remind employees to use company health benefits.
Digital technologies are electronic tools, systems, devices and resources that generate, store or process data. Well known examples include social media, online games, multimedia and mobile phones.
Are there any other benefits in digital health? ›
Digital technology benefits healthcare in at least three ways: Improved access to care. Better patient outcomes. Healthier (less burnt-out) physicians.
What is digital health trends? ›Digital health is a rapidly evolving field that encompasses the use of technology to improve and transform healthcare. In 2023, it is likely that digital health will play an increasingly important role in the delivery of healthcare services and the management of health information.
When did digital health start? ›The Beginning (1897) As one of the most comprehensive areas of digital health, telemedicine encompasses using electronic forms of communication (i.e., phone and video calls) to perform medical diagnosis.
What are the domains of digital health? ›The framework identifies four domains that are essential to providing safe and high-quality care in digital health (Figure 1): Domain 1: The digital workplace • Domain 2: Digital professionalism • Domain 3: Data and informatics • Domain 4: Digital transformation.
Is digital health effective? ›Strategies for effective intervention via digital health included engineering improved health behaviour (50.0%), better clinical assessment (35.1%), treatment compliance (33.3%) and enhanced coordination of care (24.1%).
What is an example of digital health intervention? ›Step 1: identifying the research question
The examples of DH interventions include patient–provider communication, point-of-care data exchange, remote monitoring of medical devices, public health alerts, patient education and clinical trials information.
Digital systems are all around us in the form of computers, smartphones, scanners, cash registers and digital ticket readers.
Who benefits of digital health? ›Benefits of digital health
Expanded access to health care to historically marginalized communities. Decreased health care costs for both patients and providers. Improved patient health outcomes through personalized treatment plans. Increased operation efficiency at health facilities, such as hospitals.
What are digital health products? Digital health products include wearable devices, digital health apps, and other products that can help older adults monitor their health—or the health of someone you love from afar. Some digital health technology examples include: Fitness trackers (e.g., Fitbit)
What is digital strategy in healthcare? ›Helping healthcare organizations to strategically employ digital and analytics to transform their businesses and dramatically improve performance. The rise of big data and digital capabilities is changing the way healthcare payers and providers operate.
Why is digital health growing? ›
However, the software segment is projected to grow with the fastest CAGR of 19.9% in the forecast period. The major factor that attributes to the segment growth is the rapid adoption of these software solutions by patients, hospitals, healthcare providers, and insurance payers.
Is digital health growing? ›Revenue in the Digital Health market is projected to reach US$32.15bn in 2023. Revenue is expected to show an annual growth rate (CAGR 2023-2027) of 7.05%, resulting in a projected market volume of US$42.22bn by 2027. The average revenue per user (ARPU) is expected to amount to US$100.00.
What is digital good explain with example? ›Examples are Wikipedia articles; digital media, such as e-books, downloadable music, internet radio, internet television and streaming media; fonts, logos, photos and graphics; digital subscriptions; online ads (as purchased by the advertiser); internet coupons; electronic tickets; electronically treated documentation ...
What is digital in a sentence? ›Adjective You can transfer digital images from your camera to your computer. a digital recording of a sound In this new digital age, computers and the Internet are part of our everyday lives.
What are 3 benefits of technology in healthcare? ›ABSTRACT: The advantages of health information technology (IT) include facilitating communication between health care providers; improving medication safety, tracking, and reporting; and promoting quality of care through optimized access to and adherence to guidelines.
What is the definition of health quizlet? ›Health (WHO DEF) A state of complete physical, mental and social well being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
What does digital health cover? ›It includes a broad spectrum of services including patient/clinician contact, as well as patient education, advice, intervention and monitoring. The technologies involved are not necessarily digital.
What is digital health PDF? ›digital health uses not only electronic data but also traditional data to serve healthcare. and research. Today, artificial intelligence and machine learning are used as essential. methods in digital health scope, to combine with ICT and other technologies to solve. consumer and patients' problems [5].
Is digital health same as telemedicine? ›Digital health refers to everything relating to the digitization of healthcare and medicine, whereas Telemedicine is just one element of Digital Health, more specifically, providing patients with the opportunity to take part in a real-time virtual consultation with healthcare practitioners.
What are 2 definitions of health? ›The first is that health is the absence of any disease or impairment. The second is that health is a state that allows the individual to adequately cope with all demands of daily life (implying also the absence of disease and impairment).
What is the meaning of health in one word? ›
: a condition in which someone or something is thriving or doing well : well-being.
What is your own definition of health? ›Health is a positive concept emphasizing social and personal resources, as well as physical capacities.” This means that health is a resource to support an individual's function in wider society, rather than an end in itself. A healthful lifestyle provides the means to lead a full life with meaning and purpose.
Is digital health the future of healthcare? ›Navigating the Digital World
Health care systems have waited too long to unlock the full potential of digital health. Patients should no longer have to wait. Digital ecosystems are the future of health care, empowering health leaders to digitize point-of-care settings and advance patient-centered care.