Global Health Information Technology

Digital Transformation in Global Health

There are transformative changes taking place in healthcare as a result of advancements in technology, particularly in the digital realm. These positive changes have been ongoing for several years and will likely to continue to evolve as shapes. With the widespread use of Generative AI, the Digital Health revolution has taken a leap forward. Generative AI is a new technology that uses data in its large language models (LLM) to compose meaningful text. Other sub-specialties like machine learning and deep learning could be used in conjunction with generative AI to bring about advances in the health care technologies that has the potential to make a positive impact in patients' and general public's health outcomes.

With rapid global advancements in health care and application of technology in medicine, there is a need of technological workforce that works at the juncture of medicine, public health, informatics and IT infrastructure. The work in the overall digital health realm can be subdivided into the following specialities/sub-specialities:

• Interoperability Infrastructure:​ functions as interoperability platform that functions to support systemwide and nationwide infrastructure for seamless communication and data exchange between disparate systems.
• • Disease Registries for National and Subnational Jurisdictions: Disease registries provide the Health Care and Public Health Authorities with the information needed for defining workflows, treatment protocols, making policy decisions among others. 
  • Electronic Health Records (EHRs): Transition from paper-based medical records to electronic health records improves patient care and administrative efficiency. EHRs enable healthcare providers to access patient data more easily and securely.
  • Standard Personal Health Records (SPHRs): Personal Health Records are a collection of patient's healthcare information that are received from the healthcare providers as well as generated by the patients themselves through different means. Standardization of the personal health records for interoperability with EHRs is a newly emerging domain within Healthcare IT.

• Remote Monitoring and Chronic Disease Management Platform: Digital health tools allow for the remote monitoring of patients with chronic conditions. This can help patients manage their health better and reduce the burden on healthcare facilities.
• • Wearable Health Devices: The proliferation of wearable devices, such as fitness trackers, smartwatches, and medical sensors, has allowed individuals to monitor their health continuously. These devices can track vital signs, physical activity, and more, providing valuable data for both patients and healthcare providers.
  • Telemedicine and Telehealth: Telemedicine has become increasingly popular, allowing patients to consult with healthcare providers remotely. This is especially valuable for rural and underserved areas, as well as during public health emergencies like the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Applications Development:

• • Health Care related Apps and Platforms: An array of health and wellness applications and platforms that offer a wide range of services, from tracking nutrition and fitness to providing mental health support, are being developed and used worldwide. Contextualizing the data from those apps helps the medical service providers to have a broader overview of patient's health status. 
  • Genomics and Personalized Medicine: Advances in genomics have led to personalized medicine, where treatments and interventions are tailored to an individual's genetic makeup. This has the potential to make healthcare more effective and efficient.
  • Blockchain in Healthcare: Blockchain technology is being explored for securing and sharing medical records, clinical trials, and drug supply chains. It can enhance data security and interoperability.

• Policy and Guidelines:
• • Regulatory Changes: Influencing the development of Policies and Regulations that positively facilitates the uptake of Digital Health and Technology products in the developing countries.
    
  • Patient Empowerment: Digital health gives patients greater access to their health information, making them more active participants in their care and helping them make informed decisions about their health.
  • Ethical and Privacy Considerations: As digital health grows, there are important ethical and privacy issues to consider, such as data security, consent, and the responsible use of AI and personal health data.

The digital health revolution holds the potential to improve healthcare access, quality, and cost-effectiveness for the patients. However, it also presents challenges, including the need for robust policy frameworks, data security, ethical guidelines, with a focus on equitable access to technologies to ensure that the benefits are reaped with patient in the center of care.

Global Health Information Technology Pvt. Ltd. is working to strengthen the Digital Health Systems across the healthcare and public health domains, while putting special focus on interoperability and development of applications ecosystem with patient empowerment in mind.