Time ideal for digitally powered integrated care

A vast majority of healthcare services offered today are through diagnostics and treatment carried out at medical facilities. However, those that are carried out before and after the treatment are as important as those performed during the course of treatment.

The concept of care continuum, which guides and tracks patients over time through a range of comprehensive health services spanning varied levels of intensity of care, becomes relevant in this regard.

The digitally empowered world has much to contribute to and benefit from care continuum through the application of new age technologies that give rise to a seamless world of healthcare.

Services in care continuum
From self-care and prevention, through diagnosis, treatment, recovery and wellness, care continuum banks on a number of activities needed for the well-being of a person.

These services aren’t necessarily part of a formal system, but widely include those offered in hospitals, emergency departments, rehabilitation centres, inpatient and outpatient services, home care, skilled or visiting nursing services, palliative care, behavioral health, wellness care, and the like. Care continuum extends across age groups and is as important to newborn, as to healthy adults (for preventive care) and aging persons.

A digital integrated healthcare
Medical care often includes multiple caregivers and care institutions, and from this fact stems the need for documentation of up-to-date information, as well as its communication among different caregivers for timely delivery of requisite, high quality medical care.

New age devices, mobile technologies, cloud services, and many other advancements make it possible to combine multiple sources of information and transmit the same effortlessly among different stakeholders without geographic limitations.

Through the continuum, digital technologies that rely on advanced diagnostic tools, apps, wearable devices, EMRs can be used to cater to different stages of care.

In addition to these, digital intervention can also broaden access to health information and provide care outside traditional hours by equipping members to offer care services inside and outside traditional settings.

Referring to patient information stored in the cloud or Electronic Health Records, an online appointment service booked through any digital platform can bring medical care to patients located at any remote location.

In this way, connected healthcare powered by digital technologies can also provide access to life-saving treatment to an increased number of people, particularly in rural areas and developing countries, where majority of people fall beyond the boundaries of quality and timely healthcare.

Not just care, prevention of diseases, and promotion of healthy lifestyle are yet other aspects that can be addresses in integrated health services that rely on digital solutions.

The road ahead
As digital technologies integrate with healthcare services, professional healthcare and consumer markets will witness a convergence, which brings healthy living, improved overall well-being, and cost effective, quality treatment to the forefront.

This, in turn, will drive key players such as medical professionals, patients, caregivers, insurance companies, and governments to work cohesively for a well-managed and smooth transition that brings forth favourable outcomes in care continuum. (The writer is CEO of ZoyloDigiHealth)

By Vinod Kumar Reddy