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Difference Between eHealth and Digital Health
In recent years, smartphone technology has been a key contributor to the rapid development of the healthcare industry. Technology advancements have allowed for the recording of several facets of human health and treatment. With the current rate of improvement in health care, eradicating numerous major diseases and increasing life expectancy to the point where "one can live 100 years" is a possibility seems inevitable.
The total amount spent on healthcare in the United States is projected to increase enormously by the year 2025, according to experts' predictions. Yet, there is much misunderstanding about the various terms used in the digital healthcare area, most of which do not exist.
eHealth, mHealth, and digital health are all words that are commonly used interchangeably with one another. It's not helped by the fact that most individuals don't even grasp the meaning of the phrase "Digital Health," the meanings of which vary greatly. Thus, one would wonder, which is what, and why does it even matter? Well, let's check it out.
What is eHealth?
eHealth is a relatively new medical approach made possible by the integration of IT and medicine. Since it is so all-encompassing, no one set of terms has yet been adopted as the de facto standard by which eHealth is represented. It's a way to keep up with rising demand for healthcare while keeping costs down and quality good. Thus, the keys to success are integrated IT solutions for streamlining clinical and administrative operations.
The focus of eHealth assessments has previously been narrowed to just financial and economic issues. The healthcare industry has been profoundly affected by global tendencies. One of the most important objectives of eHealth is the use of ICT to improve people's health. In addition, greater health and patient autonomy are primary eHealth objectives. Electronic health records (EHR) and electronic medical records (EMR) are two types of eHealth (EMR).
What is Digital Health?
Information and communication technologies (ICTs) are used in digital health to improve access to healthcare for large populations. What we mean by this is the use of technology to the task of enhancing people's health and well-being. From basic software algorithms used in feature phones to highly interactive software apps used by smartphones, digital health is increasingly being integrated into regular clinical practise across the world. These digital health advancements are interesting to emerging markets because of their low cost. Many nations and cultures have used the phrase to denote distinct occurrences.
Regardless of the definition used, "digital health" refers to a form of healthcare that is increasingly driven by large amounts of data and use artificial intelligence and machine learning to make clinical judgements.
The phrase "mobile health" refers to the growing trend of providing healthcare services and information via mobile devices. This trend has been propelled by the rapid development of digital communication technology. Personalized and accurate medical care is the goal of digital health's interdisciplinary approach.
Differences: eHealth and Digital Health
The following table highlights the major differences between eHealth and Digital Health −
Characteristics |
eHealth |
Digital Health |
|---|---|---|
Definition |
eHealth is a healthcare practice supported by the use of information and communication technologies in the healthcare space. eHealth encompasses much of medical informatics but prioritizes on promoting the use of ICT in health development and to do so cost effectively and efficiently |
Digital Health represents an evolutionary adaptation of the art and science of medicine to pervasive information and communication technologies (ICTs). It is an umbrella term for a wide range of technologies that could meet the healthcare challenges. |
Goal |
eHealth is a means to provide high-quality care for an increasingly number of people and to do so cost effectively and efficiently, and to provide care in accessible and user-driven ways. The goal is to improve the accessibility and quality of care in the health system using information and communication technologies (ICTs), and thereby helping healthcare providers to do their job more efficiently. |
Digital Health is a means to reach every health consumer in the world via a digital channel. The goal is to implement and leverage ICTs to deliver and scale healthcare to the masses. |
Tools |
eHealth tools are not just about technical solutions for healthcare professionals or practitioners; but refer to the tools for use by the citizen in the management of his/her own health, and devices for facilitating homecare of patients through remote monitoring and assistance. eHealth tools include products, systems and services that go beyond simply Internet-based applications. Examples include electronic health records, health information networks, telemedicine services, health portals, and more. |
Digital Health tools refer to the technologies that deliver services to consumer and patients and help them manage personal health and wellness. Examples of such technology include apps, telemedicine, electronic medical records, ‘connected medicine’ and ‘smart homes’. |
Conclusion
eHealth and digital health are related concepts that refer to the use of information and communication technologies in healthcare, but they have some differences. eHealth refers to the use of electronic methods and tools to support health and healthcare, while digital health refers to the use of digital technologies to improve health and healthcare. The main difference between the two is the focus and the breadth of the technologies and applications covered.
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