Introduction

Introduction

Digital health is made up of systems, tools and services which use and share information to provide patient care.

Digital health has a broad scope, and includes (but is not limited to):

• mobile health and applications or mHealth (such as SMS reminders via mobile messaging, wellness apps, my health app and Medicare Online)
• online platforms where patients can access their health information
• electronic medicines management including electronic prescribing
• remote patient monitoring to track patient health data
• healthcare identifiers
• electronic health records including general practice local clinical information systems and My Health Record
• telehealth and telemedicine 
• wearable devices (such as fitness trackers and monitors)
• artificial intelligence tools
• electronic referrals
• access to trusted data¹.

For general practitioners (GPs) digital health can improve communication across the healthcare sector improving patient safety by:

• enabling near real-time access to patient information across healthcare settings to facilitate clinical decision-making
• providing patient screening and medication alerts
• providing data-driven insights for better planning, resourcing and continuous quality improvements.

For consumers, digital health can improve access to healthcare and provide information to support informed decision making about their own care. This includes:

• remote consultations via telehealth to reduce some physical, distance and time barriers
• wearable devices and online tools to track activity, symptoms, and measurements such as heart rate, weight and blood glucose monitoring to support diabetes management
• using information to make healthy life choices in areas such as diet, activity and sleep.

The information in this module can help strengthen and expand the digital capabilities of your general practice as well as improve digital literacy for your practice team and your patients.  

When you have completed this module, including the Test your knowledge section, you can self-record this activity for CPD purposes.