The Six Characteristics of Digital Health

As digital health continues to evolve, so do the perceptions around it. And despite some of the facts that have been outlined in other articles (Driving Health Care Change: Tech Companies or Providers?), there still seem to be misconceptions about what digital health is, how it works and the costs associated with adoption. These misconceptions lead to usage hesitation and possibly mistrust.

At OSF OnCall, we believe it is imperative that both health care providers and their patients understand digital health. There are tremendous benefits to all process participants. So let's start simply and try to put some of these misconceptions to rest by talking about what digital health is and what it isn't.

Here are six simple characteristics of digital health:

1. Physical and virtual. They are intertwined. There is no separation. For example, OSF OnCall Urgent Care has physical locations and 24/7 virtual access available. Same care. Same provider. Just using technology to connect each party.

In addition, both physical and virtual care all remain part of the same health care journey. This is imperative for success. With services like remote patient monitoring, providers can offer their patients ongoing virtual monitoring and care to complement and continue to manage care between in-person visits, again integrating the two.

2. Scalable. Maybe an overused term, but digital health allows providers to take better care of more people because it leverages the use of an expanded provider resource pool. Whether that fills gaps with available hospitalists or expands ICU capabilities, it can extend patient care that providers could, in many cases, only provide if they transferred care somewhere else. This allows for a higher level of care and specialty while allowing local providers, and patients, the comfort of knowing they can keep their local connection. And it can be done with minimal infrastructure costs, relieving the challenges of workforce recruitment while supporting clinical staff retention.

3. Always available. There is nothing timely about health care needs. Issues arise around the clock. And life also gets in the way. Being able to provide high-quality care anywhere, at any time, through multiple channels, gives peace of mind to providers and patients.

4. Personal. One of the great misconceptions is that digital health can be impersonal. In fact, just the opposite is true. Providers can be connected to their patients more easily. They can offer greater expertise and specialists to their patients without sending them elsewhere and can even be alongside them. The reality is, digital health can make care more personal as it integrates every step through the entire care continuum, bringing more consistency and a greater personal touch.

5. High-quality health care with greater accessibility. Providers today, especially in smaller facilities and rural locations, can be limited in what care is available locally, whether it be limited ICU coverage, lack of available hospitalists and specialists or too few qualified nursing resources. Digital health allows providers to bring a level of expertise to their patients regardless of geography or in-house capabilities. The result is more patients receive a higher level of care than previously may have been unavailable to them without significant cost and inconvenience, like transferring to a facility outside of the community.

6. A collaborative partnership between you and OSF OnCall Digital Health. Digital health does not mean another provider is taking over your patients or your care. Rather, OSF OnCall partners with you to first determine your needs, identify gaps and understand your current capabilities before building a plan specifically designed for you. Our goal is to extend your capabilities, provide greater flexibility and convenience, and relieve some of the burden from your clinical teams. 

Digital health is the future of health care. It is convenient, extends availability and expertise, and will ultimately drive broader and better care and care delivery. It is becoming more and more an expectation as well as a necessity. Learn more at osfoncallpartners.org.