Overview
The digital health arena has been exponentially growing with large numbers of mobile device users and currently available technologies. Providers are increasingly adopting digital health tools, which can assist with patient education, clinical decision support, and shared decision-making. Digital technologies (e.g. mobile health applications, virtual scribe solutions) help patients and providers to collect and organize vital information in an easily accessible format, and have great potential to improve patient-centered outcomes and provider workflows in real-time.
Digital health technologies may be accessed through distinct modalities, which enhance their usability and value among patients and providers. These tools are available for smartphones, tablets, wearable devices, computers, and virtual personal assistants, and offer many advantages for patients who find it difficult to access health information. Telehealth visits may be especially useful for remote and underserved communities with little access to healthcare resources. Digital health tools help providers to access information and deliver education in the setting of time constraints.