There are many new terms to learn when speaking of the digital transformation and some of them appear to be almost the same or very similar.
Throughout all six themes, definitions will pop up to make sure that we have a common understanding of some focal terms. The following is a small selection to let you in on the basic terms.
We realize new ones will keep getting added to the extensive list, wherefore this will hardly be an exhaustive selection
Digital transformation
The adoption of digital technology by an organization to digitize non-digital products, services or operations. The goal for its implementation is to increase value through innovation, invention, customer experience or efficiency.
Telemedicine
Telemedicine is health services that are provided using information and communication technology, which replaces a physical meeting between the citizen (patient) and the healthcare professional who delivers the service. The first people to use video communication for medical purposes were clinicians at the University of Nebraska. In 1959, the university established a two-way television setup to transmit information to medical students across campus, and five years later linked with a state hospital to perform video consultations. (Read an extended definition of Telemedicine in Theme 4.)
Digitization/digitalization
Digitization is a technical process of converting analogue (including paper-based) health records to digital formats that may then be available for use electronically.
Digitalization is the integration of technology in the production of services. A process that involves the integration of digital technology into existing operations and tasks in public health/healthcare with the goal of improving efficiency and adding value to citizens (patients) and healthcare professionals.
The difference between digitization and digitalization: Digitization relates to the technical process of digital conversion, whereas digitalization refers to an organizational and cultural process of change in public health.
The integration of technology in the production of services.
A process that involves the integration of digital technology into existing operations and tasks in public health/healthcare with the goal of improving efficiency and adding value to citizens (patients) and healthcare professionals.
Digital health
The field of knowledge and practice associated with the development and use of digital technology to improve health.
Health technology
The application of organized knowledge and competencies in the form of devices, medicines, vaccines, procedures, and systems developed to solve a health problem and improve quality of lives.
Telemedicine
Telemedicine is defined as digitally supported health services where the citizen (patient) can avoid having to appear at the doctor’s office or at the hospital in cases where a physical appearance is not necessary for the consultation.
Telemedicine does not replace current medical practices but is a response to the challenges facing healthcare today: inequalities in access to care, changes in medical demography, geographical challenges of the system and economic constraints.
Digital Health Literacy
“The ability to seek, find, understand, and appraise health information from electronic sources and apply the knowledge gained to addressing or solving a health problem” [Norman and Skinner (2006)].
Digital competencies
Should be understood as the ability to combine digital technology, knowledge, competencies and attitudes appropriate to the context. Therefore, we divide the term into the following learning domains:
- Instrumental competencies to use digital tools and media.
- Knowledge, theories and principles related to technology.
- Attitudes towards strategic use, openness, critical understanding, creativity, responsibility and independence.
Source / References
- Schmarzo, Bill (31 May 2017). “What is Digital Transformation?”. Archived from the original on 2019-11-30. Retrieved 9 July 2021.
- Wren, Hannah (1 December 2020). “What is digital transformation? Definition, Examples, Main Areas”. Archived from the original on 2020-12-02. Retrieved 9 October 2021
- 2020-12-02. Retrieved 9 October 2021 https://evisit.com/resources/history-of-telemedicine#:~:text=The%20first%20people%20to%20use,hospital%20to%20perform%20video%20consultations
- Iyamu, I., Xu, A. X. T., Gómez-Ramírez, O., Ablona, A., Chang, H. J., Mckee, G., & Gilbert, M. (2021). Defining Digital Public Health and the Role of Digitization, Digitalization, and Digital Transformation: Scoping Review. JMIR public health and surveillance, 7(11), e30399. https://doi.org/10.2196/30399Global strategy on digital health 2020-2025. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2021. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.
- https://joint-research-centre.ec.europa.eu/digcomp/digcomp-framework_enWorld Health Organization. (2011). Health technology assessment of medical devices.#11 HTA Advancement-FINAL.indd (who.int)
Digital health
The field of knowledge and practice associated with the development and use of digital technology to improve health.
“The ability to seek, find, understand, and appraise health information from electronic sources and apply the knowledge gained to addressing or solving a health problem” [Norman and Skinner (2006)].
Health technology
The application of organized knowledge and competencies in the form of devices, medicines, vaccines, procedures, and systems developed to solve a health problem and improve quality of lives.
What are digital competencies for healthcare professionals?
What do we mean, when we say digital competencies for healthcare professionals and what are the potentials for improving digital competencies for the healthcare professional?
Digital competencies for the healthcare professional
The DELIVER study has shown that employees generally see digital competencies as being able to use and apply digital technology.
The model shows which digital competencies were highlighted in the DELIVER study as particularly important for the healthcare professional. These are:
- Data usage
- Data information
- Technological understanding
- User competencies
- Problem solving
- Communication & dissemination
- Awareness
- Implementation
- Development
Potentials for improving digital competencies
Based on the DELIVER study, the following were suggested as areas that have potential for improvement in regards to digital competencies for the healthcare professional.
- Change of attitude and mind-set in relation to technology towards more open-mindedness, interest, curiosity, patience and courage.
- More reflection on value of technology and awareness of one’s shortcomings.
- Skills to use existing digital tools and further training in communicating digitally and training colleagues and citizens (patients) in using digital solutions.
- Technological understanding and trouble shooting.
Source / References
Potentials and challenges for the digital healthcare professional
In general, digitization is viewed as leading to greater flexibility, better working conditions, increased research and most importantly: an increase in the quality of care. However, the digital transformation triggers radical changes in the daily routines of nurses, therapists and other healthcare professionals.
Digital transformation is seen as inevitable by healthcare managers and generally leads to a better healthcare system with more efficient workflows and better services for citizens (patients). Especially when considering a future with a smaller workforce and more complex issues.
However, if you ask the healthcare professionals they feel a lot of work goes to waste in the process due to the cost of making changes.
Challenges of digital technology
The DELIVER quantitative survey shows that digital solutions are perceived as leading to more administration and registration and has taken some time away from the citizen (patient), which in some cases impairs the relation between the healthcare professional and the citizen (patient).
Digital technology can give cause to resistance as many healthcare professionals experience a bigger burden with new technology, changing workflows etc.
The majority of healthcare professionals do not exploit the full potentials of their digital systems.
There is still a lot of double registration work (digital and paper), lack of integration between systems and thus, preventing the flow of information, a higher dependency on technology.
Challenges in the implementation of digital technology identified
Inadequate training both in terms of lack of time and resources. This is especially a problem for older generations who adapt slower to new technology.
Data security/privacy policies is an obstacle to using digital solutions as this can limit the access to and possibility to share information.
Mind-set of the healthcare professionals especially among older employees, e.g. fear of new technology and reluctance to replace close contact with the citizen (patient) with digital technology.
Digital solutions that are not adapted to the work requirements or counter intuitive and not user friendly as well as technical problems.
Source / References
The biggest advantages are
- Optimization of time for healthcare professionals and faster citizen (patient) care of improved quality and with higher data security.
- Agile, personalized and accessible communication between professionals and with citizens (patients).
- Improved legal compliance, transparency and more secure storing of data.
- More systematic and efficient processes and improved decision making through data; e.g. making it easier to measure performed work.
- Avoidance of human errors.
