A digital health platform relies on cutting-edge technologies and health services to improve patient care and engagement. By adopting these platforms, healthcare organizations can improve the patient experience and the quality of a patient’s care.
A digital health platform consolidates a number of healthcare services and technologies. In this online space — whether via a laptop, a smartphone app, or through the use of a remote device — a patient can view test results, access health records, message their providers, pay bills, log symptoms in real time, request prescription refills, and more.
With virtual care, patients can speak with their doctor on demand, employ medical devices and the Internet of Things (IoT) for disease monitoring and detection, and communicate with their providers on a mobile app. These data-driven technologies and services empower patients to continuously invest in their physical and mental health. Additionally, a platform designed for particular conditions or patients (e.g., ones with a chronic illness) can address specialized needs and enhance personalized care.
Artificial intelligence (AI) tools will likely continue to stoke interest in digital health companies. Per Forbes, “From appointment booking, locating the closest in-network healthcare provider and understanding diagnostic procedures to providing personalized medical information, AI-powered virtual assistants can be immensely valuable for patients and healthcare providers alike.”
In 2020, at the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic, the need for digital healthcare platforms became clear. A 2021 study from Acta Informatica Medica Journal, which examined the use of healthcare platforms in Saudi Arabia, noted that “healthcare consumers generally exhibited strong intention to use the digital healthcare platforms during and after Covid-19.” In particular, the report noted that digital meeting tools (e.g., Zoom) can improve patients’ and providers’ safety during disease outbreaks.
Per a 2021 report from Deloitte, “Health care is ripe for a platform and ecosystem revolution,” and the healthcare industry contains certain identifiers that, according to Deloitte, are “characteristics of industries that typically precede ecosystem disruption.”
According to the report, “dissatisfied customers” count among these identifiers: “Consumers now have expectations from retail (e.g., Amazon) or finance (e.g., SoFi), and health care still fails to meet these expectations.” With a digital health platform, customers can access the on-demand care that they’ve come to expect from other providers of goods and services.
The potential business benefits of a digital health platform are many: