F10 – Digital health technologies

• the practice has a reliable internet connection, capable of supporting multiple videoconferencing requirements if undertaking telehealth
• equipment and connectivity needed for digital health technologies can deliver sound and image of a quality that is suitable for clinical purposes
• any proposal for new technology includes a systematic, operational assessment of its impact before its implementation. This could include workflow changes, readiness of the team, resource requirements, costings and consumer experience
• to confirm its reliability, all hardware and software is tested regularly, as well as after any updates or changes to functionality
• if members of the practice team work off site, the practice has:
  • systems that enable communication to and from the practice (email, telephone, fax, secure messaging)
  • technology that enables remote access to clinical records
  • ‘read and write’ options for the practice’s clinical information system
  • access to My Health Record if applicable.

When digital health technologies are used in patient care, practices need to support clinicians to obtain informed consent that is appropriate to the technology being used and the individual patient’s needs.

The practice could:

• support clinicians to explain to patients how the digital health technology will be used as part of their care, including any limitations or risks
• inform patients about how their health information will be collected, used, stored and shared when digital technologies are involved
• support clinicians to tailor consent discussions to the patient’s level of understanding, digital literacy and preferences
• provide guidance to clinicians on when consent may need to be reviewed or revisited (for example, if a different digital technology is introduced).

When digital health technologies are used to share health information, practices share information securely in accordance with privacy legislation, informed consent requirements and principles that support continuity of care.

Digital health technologies could support this by enabling the practice to:

• use secure messaging platforms to exchange clinical information with other healthcare providers
• allow patients to access their own health information through patient portals or mobile health apps, where appropriate
• transmit information using encrypted or secure channels
• document patient consent for sharing information, particularly when using third‑party platforms or services
• support continuity of care by ensuring shared information is timely, accurate and accessible to authorised recipients.

Before introducing or changing a digital health technology, practices need to consider its impacts.

The practice could:

• assess the proposed technology for its intended purpose, safety, usability and alignment with patient care needs
• consider the impacts on practice workflows, role responsibilities and readiness of the practice team
• identify resource requirements, including infrastructure, support arrangements and ongoing maintenance
• consider direct and indirect costs, including licensing, upgrades, integration and support
• define how the technology will be implemented, reviewed and managed over time, including how risks and issues will be identified and addressed
• review the use of the technology periodically to confirm it continues to support safe, high‑quality patient care.

To seek input and feedback from members of the practice team that could inform decision-making and training needs, the practice could:

• seek input from the practice team in the initial stages of implementing a new digital health technology
• explain the benefits and expected outcomes to the practice team
• address training and support needs
• encourage ongoing feedback from the practice team to support assessment, evaluation and ongoing quality improvement.

Collaboration goes beyond arranging technical support after implementation: it also involves engaging technical experts when planning, implementing, and optimising digital health technologies, so the technologies support high-quality patient care. The practice could:

• schedule regular sessions with technical experts to review system performance and identify improvements
• involve technical experts in workflow design when introducing new digital tools
• establish feedback loops between members of the practice team and technical experts to address usability and safety concerns
• have technical experts provide training tailored to the practice’s needs and patient population.