scholarly journals Digital Health Value Realization Through Active Change Efforts

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rashaad Bhyat ◽  
Simon Hagens ◽  
Katie Bryski ◽  
Jocelyn Fausto Kohlmaier
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Change Initiatives ◽  
Case Examples ◽  
Virtual Care ◽  
Clinical Adoption ◽  
Change Efforts

Digital health has massive potential in health care but has been slow to evolve in comparison to other information-intensive industries, which have more readily taken advantage of new technology. One of the key barriers has been the complex relationship between the perceived return on investment for the investor and the resulting value to patients and caregivers. Those actors who pay for technologies do not always see an appreciable return for themselves, while those actors who must apply the technology to generate value are not always incentivized to do so. This misalignment across health system payers and administrators, clinicians and patients must be better understood and addressed to help accelerate digital health. This paper will examine this challenge through the clinician experience, using empirical case examples from Canada to illustrate opportunities for change. While many factors may influence digital health adoption, this paper specifically aims to explore the shifts in the balance of the perceived value of implementing digital health tools, vs. the efforts required to adopt them. It will explore two contrasting case examples: clinical adoption of EMRs in Canada from 2009 to 2015, and clinical adoption of virtual care technologies during the COVID-19 pandemic from 2020 to 2021. In 2006, Canada lagged peer countries significantly in the adoption of electronic medical records (EMR) in community-based care. Financial support and cooperation of multiple levels of government and clinical stakeholders were required to address the misaligned incentives, which led to significant uptake by care providers. The rapid adoption of virtual care in Canada in response to the pandemic provides another relevant example of the importance of alignment among the factors of clinical workflows, clinical appropriateness, technology integration and payment models. Experts have highlighted the need for standardization, regulation, and clear policy to ensure sustainable, high quality virtual care that complements in-person care. In both cases, the costs and effort of adopting new technologies outweighed direct clinician value, requiring change initiatives to catalyze progress. This imbalance could be unique to these examples in Canada, and may not be globally generalizable to the adoption of all digital health tools. However, how change efforts can be tailored to adjust to a rapidly evolving health care workforce, spanning diverse jurisdictions and stakeholder groups will be critical to the sustainability of virtual care adoption. Furthermore, what key elements must be considered to guide change initiatives for successful implementation, designed to influence change while adding value for patients, clinicians and Canada's health care systems? Using insights from successful change initiatives past and present, this paper aims to answer these questions to enable a smoother transition to digital health innovations of the future.

scholarly journals Development and Evaluation of a New Security and Privacy Track in a Health Informatics Graduate Program: Multidisciplinary Collaboration in Education (Preprint)

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leming Zhou ◽  
Bambang Parmanto ◽  
James Joshi
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Health Informatics ◽  
Graduate Program ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Security And Privacy ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Widespread Application ◽  
Mobile Health Apps

BACKGROUND The widespread application of technologies such as electronic health record systems, mobile health apps, and telemedicine platforms, has made it easy for health care providers to collect relevant data and deliver health care regimens. While efficacious, these new technologies also pose serious security and privacy challenges. OBJECTIVE The training program described here aims at preparing well-informed health information security and privacy professionals with enhanced course materials and various approaches. METHODS A new educational track has been built within a health informatics graduate program. Several existing graduate courses have been enhanced with new security and privacy modules. New labs and seminars have been created, and students are being encouraged to participate in research projects and obtain real-world experience from industry partners. Students in this track receive both theoretical education and hands-on practice. Evaluations have been performed on this new track by conducting multiple surveys on a sample of students. RESULTS We have succeeded in creating a new security track and developing a pertinent curriculum. The newly created security materials have been implemented in multiple courses. Our evaluation indicated that students (N=72) believed that receiving security and privacy training was important for health professionals, the provided security contents were interesting, and having the enhanced security and privacy training in this program was beneficial for their future career. CONCLUSIONS The security and privacy education for health information professionals in this new security track has been significantly enhanced.

Principle-driven virtual care practice to ensure quality and accessibility

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 81-84
Author(s):  
Kendell Ho ◽  
Ken Harris ◽  
Toni Leamon
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Care Delivery ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Professional Community ◽  
Alternative Form ◽  
Care Practice ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Virtual Care ◽  
The Right

COVID-19 has accelerated the use of telehealth or virtual care (VC) as an alternative form of health care delivery. Clearly, VC provides unprecedented convenience and timeliness for patients seeking care from their health professionals. As a result, a substantial increase in telehealth providers is occurring, and the Canadian government is investing millions to support digital health care treatments and telehealth services. However, it is vital that the health professional community carefully examine the quality of care being delivered digitally and determine when it is appropriate to use VC as an alternative to face-to-face care. This article highlights some principles for health policymakers, health professionals, and health consumers to consider to ensure that VC is used appropriately and ethically for the right health conditions and in the right contexts.

scholarly journals P023: Code Resus - using a quality improvement approach to improve health care provider response during resuscitations

CJEM ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 18 (S1) ◽  
pp. S86-S86
Author(s):  
L.B. Chartier ◽  
S. Hansen ◽  
D. Lim ◽  
S. Yi ◽  
B. McGovern ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Quality Improvement ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Care Hospital ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Change Initiatives ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Before And After

Introduction: In order to achieve the best possible outcomes for patients requiring resuscitation (PRRs) in the emergency department (ED), health care providers (HCPs) must provide an efficient, multi-disciplinary and coordinated response. A quality improvement (QI) project was undertaken to improve HCP response to PRRs at two tertiary care hospital EDs in Toronto. Methods: We conducted a before-and-after mixed-method survey to evaluate the perception of the adequacy of HCP response and clarity of HCP role when responding to PRRs. The results were compared using the Chi-square test. Qualitative responses to the first survey were also used to inform the development of the QI project. Through interviews of key stakeholders and with continuous input from front-line ED HCPs, a multi-disciplinary team modified the ED resuscitation protocol. This included standardized pre-hospital communication form with paramedics, ED-wide overhead announcement of ‘Code Resus’, dedicated HCPs assigned to respond to PRRs, and specific duties assigned to each responder. Change initiatives were reinforced through education and posters in the ED. Six months after implementation, a second survey was conducted to evaluate the sustained effects of the intervention. Results: Baseline measures indicated that 16 of 52 (30.8%) nurses surveyed believed their role was often or always apparent to themselves and others when they attended to a PRR (on a 5-point rating scale). This proportion increased to 35 of 55 (63.6%) nurses in the post-implementation survey (p < 0.001). Regarding adequacy of the number of HCPs responding to PRRs, 17 of 39 (43.6%) physicians and 23 of 53 (43.4%) nurses surveyed thought the appropriate number of HCPs responded to PRRs; the remainder thought that there were too few or too many HCPs. In the post-implementation survey, 34 of 41 (82.9%) physicians (p < 0.001) and 36 of 56 (64.3%) nurses (p = 0.029) surveyed felt that the appropriate number of HCPs attended to PRRs. Conclusion: Using a quality improvement approach, we identified and quantified perceived deficiencies in HCP response to PRRs in the ED. Through feedback-based modifications of the ED resuscitation protocol and by engaging HCP stakeholders, change initiatives were implemented to improve HCP response. As a result, this project achieved significant and sustained improvements in HCPs’ perceived response to PRRs.

The Digital Revolution in Behavioral Health

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 102-111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael J Hasselberg
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
Behavioral Health ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Behavioral Health Care ◽  
The United States ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Digital Revolution ◽  
The University

BACKGROUND: Technology is disrupting every modern industry, from supermarkets to car manufacturing, and is now entering the health care space. Technological innovations in psychiatry include the opportunity for conducting therapy via two-way video conferencing, providing electronic consultations, and telementoring and education of community health care providers. Use of mobile health applications is also an expanding area of interest and promise. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this article is to review the evolution and pros and cons of technology-enabled health care since the digital movement in psychiatry began more than 50 years ago as well as describe the University of Rochester’s innovative digital behavioral health care model. METHODS: A review of the literature and recent reports on innovations in digital behavioral health care was conducted, along with a review of the University of Rochester’s model to describe the current state of digital behavioral health care. RESULTS: Given the lack of access to care and mental health professional shortages in many parts of the United States, particularly rural areas, digital behavioral health care will be an increasingly important strategy for managing mental health care needs. However, there are numerous hurdles to be overcome in adopting digital health care, including provider resistance and knowledge gaps, lack of reimbursement parity, restrictive credentialing and privileging, and overregulation at both the state and federal levels. CONCLUSIONS: Digital health innovations are transforming the delivery of mental health care services and psychiatric mental health nurses can be on the forefront of this important digital revolution.

scholarly journals Evaluating usability, effectiveness, and usage of telehealth technologies

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Mirna Becevic
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Access To Care ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Care Delivery ◽  
Traditional Approach ◽  
Additional Stress ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Medical Specialties ◽  
Number Of Patients

Affordable Care Act (ACA) has allowed more patients that did not previously have health care insurance to have coverage and access to care. This increase in the number of patients seeking medical care will only add additional stress to the existing disproportion of supply and demand for health care providers. In addition, rising health care costs have major effect on how, where, and even if consumers will get needed care. This study examined three different telehealth platforms in three different medical specialties in order to evaluate the perception that they would be appropriate vehicles for increasing access to care. I also wanted to find out what the users' perceptions of these technologies are, as that can be a driving factor in adoption of new technologies. The first study examined the usability and acceptance of new mobile application in teledermatology clinic. The second study focused on usability and acceptance of ICU Robots in a medical ICU. Finally, the third study evaluated if children and youth currently using telepsychiatry as a care delivery method would have other in-person options if telehealth was not available. The results of these three studies point at the complexity and richness of telehealth. The adoption and acceptance of mHealth was very fast and streamlined. In the same fashion, children might not have other appropriate options for care if telepsychiatry was not available in rural Missouri. Interestingly, though, the provider acceptance of ICU Robots was slow, with some provider disengagements observed. This research contributes to the field of health informatics and medical informatics by evaluating adoption and usability of technologies from the provider perspective, vs. the more traditional approach of examining patient satisfaction, or even provider satisfaction without fully understanding the implications of attitudes on the adoption itself. This study has focused purposefully on different groups of providers using different types of telehealth technologies so we could try to see the bigger picture of how telehealth actually contributes to the health care organizational structure.

scholarly journals Digital Health and Digital Learning Experiences Across Speech-Language Pathology, Phoniatrics, and Otolaryngology: Interdisciplinary Survey Study (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuchen Lin ◽  
Martin Lemos ◽  
Christiane Neuschaefer-Rube
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Survey Study ◽  
Digital Learning ◽  
Years Of Experience ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Speech Language Pathology ◽  
Knowledge Use ◽  
Time And Space ◽  
Language Pathology

BACKGROUND Advances in digital health and digital learning are transforming the lives of patients, health care providers, and health professional students. In the interdisciplinary field of communication sciences and disorders (CSD), digital uptake and incorporation of digital topics and technologies into clinical training programs has lagged behind other medical fields. There is a need to understand professional and student experiences, opinions, and needs regarding digital health and learning topics so that effective strategies for implementation can be optimized. OBJECTIVE This cross-sectional survey study aims to interdisciplinarily investigate professional and student knowledge, use, attitudes, and preferences toward digital health and learning in the German-speaking population. METHODS An open-ended, web-based survey was developed and conducted with professionals and students in CSD including phoniatricians and otolaryngologists, speech-language pathologists (<i>German: Logopäd*innen</i>), medical students, and speech-language pathology students. Differences in knowledge, use, attitudes, and preferences across profession, generation, and years of experience were analyzed. RESULTS A total of 170 participants completed the survey. Respondents demonstrated greater familiarity with digital learning as opposed to eHealth concepts. Significant differences were noted across profession (<i>P&lt;</i>.001), generation (<i>P=</i>.001), and years of experience (<i>P&lt;</i>.001), which demonstrated that students and younger participants were less familiar with digital health terminology. Professional (<i>P&lt;</i>.001) and generational differences were also found (<i>P=</i>.04) in knowledge of digital therapy tools, though no significant differences were found for digital learning tools. Participants primarily used computers, tablets, and mobile phones; non–eHealth-specific tools (eg, word processing and videoconferencing applications); and digital formats such as videos, web courses, and apps. Many indicated a desire for more interactive platforms, such as virtual reality. Significant differences were found across generations for positive views toward digitalization (<i>P&lt;</i>.001) and across profession for feelings of preparedness (<i>P=</i>.04). Interestingly, across profession (<i>P=</i>.03), generation (<i>P=</i>.006), and years of experience (<i>P=</i>.01), students and younger participants demonstrated greater support for medical certification. Commonly reported areas of concern included technical difficulties, quality and validity of digital materials, data privacy, and social presence. Respondents tended to prefer blended learning, a limited to moderate level of interactivity, and time and space–flexible learning environments (63/170, 37.1%), with a notable proportion still preferring traditional time and space–dependent learning (49/170, 28.8%). CONCLUSIONS This comprehensive investigation into the current state of CSD student and professional opinions and experiences has shown that incorporation of digital topics and skills into academic and professional development curricula will be crucial for ensuring that the field is prepared for the ever-digitalizing health care environment. Deeper empirical investigation into efficacy and acceptance of digital learning and practice strategies and systematic training and practical organizational supports must be planned to ensure adaptive education and practice. CLINICALTRIAL

scholarly journals Exploring digital health care: eHealth, mHealth, and librarian opportunities

2021 ◽  
Vol 109 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Janet Chan
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
The United States ◽  
Security And Privacy ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Vast Number ◽  
Health Technologies ◽  
Technology Advances

Technology advances in eHealth and mHealth are changing the way that health care consumers and providers communicate, receive and deliver care, and access health information. As electronic health records and smartphones have become ubiquitous in the United States, opportunities and applications for the integration of eHealth and mHealth have increased. In addition to technology advances, the changing health care model is simultaneously adapting to and driving initiatives in digital health care. With these digital initiatives have come challenges, including data overload, security and privacy concerns, deficits in technological and health literacy skills, and sorting through the vast number of choices of digital applications. Navigating this changing landscape can be overwhelming and time consuming for both health care providers and consumers. Librarians are uniquely positioned to assist providers and consumers to break down barriers within the digital health care landscape through data management initiatives, technology and health literacy instruction, and finding and evaluating health information and digital health technologies.

scholarly journals Willingness to Use Digital Health Tools in Patient Care Among Health Care Professionals and Students at a University Hospital in Saudi Arabia: Quantitative Cross-sectional Survey

10.2196/18590 ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. e18590
Author(s):  
Subash Thapa ◽  
Jesper Bo Nielsen ◽  
Abdullah M Aldahmash ◽  
Fatima R Qadri ◽  
Anja Leppin
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Patient Care ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Digital Tools ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Willingness To Use

Background The adoption rate of digital health in the health care sector is low in many countries. A facilitating factor for successful implementation and adoption of digital health is acceptance by current and future health care professionals. Objective This study was conducted to identify factors associated with willingness to use digital health tools in patient care among health care professionals and students. Methods This was a quantitative cross-sectional survey study conducted among health care professionals and students at a university hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A nonprobability convenience sampling procedure was used to recruit participants. Data were collected using a self-completed e-questionnaire that was distributed by email. Chi-square tests, t tests, and logistic regression were used to analyze the data. Results We found that 181 out of 218 health care professionals (83.0%; 75.6% [59/78] physicians; 87.1% [122/140] nurses) and 115 out of 154 students (74.7%; 80.0% [76/95] medical students and 66.1% [39/59] nursing students) were willing to use digital tools in patient care. Willingness to use digital tools was significantly associated with attitude (Adjusted Odds Ratios [AOR] 1.96; 95% CI 1.14-3.36) and self-efficacy (AOR 1.64; 95% CI 1.17-2.30) among health care professionals, and with current year of study (AOR 2.08; 95% CI 1.18-3.68) and self-efficacy (AOR 1.77; 95% CI 1.17-2.69) among students. No significant difference in willingness to use digital tools was found between physicians and nurses (P=.113), and between medical and nursing students (P=.079). Conclusions The findings of this study should encourage policy makers and hospital managers to implement relevant eHealth interventions within routine health care systems in Saudi Arabia. For successful implementation, digital health education programs should be implemented simultaneously, so that current and future health care professionals are able to develop required positive attitudes as well as practical skills and competencies.

Chilean Health Care Providers’ Perceived Comfort in Performing Oral Rapid Testing for HIV: A Cross-Sectional Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 191-197
Author(s):  
Lisette P. Irarrázabal ◽  
Judith A. Levy ◽  
Rosina Cianelli ◽  
Kathleen F. Norr ◽  
L. Michele Issel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Hiv Testing ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Rapid Testing ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Rapid Hiv Testing

Objectives: To understand key factors influencing Chilean health care providers’ perceived comfort performing oral rapid HIV testing. Design: One hundred and fifty health care providers completed a self-administered questionnaire that included a five-item scale measuring self-perceived comfort in conducting HIV pretest counseling, oral rapid testing, finger-prick testing, and delivering test results. Results: Most participants (60%) envisioned good overall comfort performing oral rapid HIV testing (mean score of 16.21; range 0-20), including doing at least four of the five steps. They perceived least comfort delivering HIV-positive test results during posttest counseling. HIV stigmatizing attitudes reduced self-perceived comfort. Conclusions: Providing training to counter HIV stigmatization while increasing comfort in performing oral rapid testing would help facilitate its successful implementation.

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