What exactly is the “digital patient” and how can ICT (Information and Communications Technology) change the way we deliver healthcare, undertake prevention and organize healthcare systems?
A metaphor. For now.
The digital patient is no longer a record of the past – it is a tool that helps us predict the future. This can help us in many ways, like deciding the planning treatments and providing more specific and well-tailored preventive health guidance to each individual.
What do we need in order to make the “digital patient” real?
By realizing that the digital patient’s potential requires the technical integration of data from multiple sources on a single patient record during his or her lifetime. This may include various GP practice systems, multiple hospital systems, health centres, schools and occupational health systems, and health clubs.
This will require a much broader adoption of standards and alignment of clinical documentation practice than we currently have, so health information is consistently organized to present a comprehensive picture of the patient’s health. (Crawford et al., 2016)
