#51: 📖 The Digital Health Dictionary
#51: 📖 The Digital Health Dictionary
Understanding the Buzzwords of Modern Medicine
Hey Friends,
Are any of you local to Lisbon?
I’m speaking in a panel called “Say YES to Health and Longevity” on October 3, 2023 sponsored by RedBridge, a community of Californians and Portuguese.
Come say Hi and ask any questions you have about living a long and healthy life.
See you there!
Nina
💬 In this note:
📖 The Digital Health Dictionary
📚 Reign
⚡️ Nordstrom’s Iconic SF store closes
📖 The Digital Health Dictionary
Understanding the Buzzwords of Modern Medicine
Digital health, digital medicine and digital therapeutics (DTx) are terms that have emerged to describe the interaction of technology and healthcare. Technology has enabled us to deliver healthcare in new ways.
Digital health products can help prevent, diagnose and treat chronic conditions. The devices to receive the interventions can range from apps to virtual reality to wearable devices.
However, not all digital health products are the same. Some may be wellness products and some may not have clinical evidence that they work.
So how can you tell the difference?
I get asked this a lot.
Let’s clarify.
Understanding the Basics
The term “digital health” generally refers to the use of technology to improve health or healthcare, while “digital medicine” and “digital therapeutics” are more specific terms that refer to the use of technology to diagnose, treat and prevent disease.
Digital Health
This is a catch-all term that encompasses all technological tools and platforms used for health-related purposes.
It can range from fitness trackers and wellness apps to telemedicine and remote patient monitoring.
Whereas digital health products can be used to store health data and information such as user-facing technologies, health information technology and consumer health information.
Other digital health technologies transmit health data via telehealth, decision support software, and clinical care management.
Most notably, not all digital health products require clinical evidence for their efficacy, and many may not be regulated by government bodies due to their low-risk nature.
Digital Medicine
A subset of digital health, digital medicine refers to the use of technology to diagnose, treat and prevent disease. These products measure or intervene in human health with tools like digital diagnostics and remote patient monitoring.
Digital medicine products can intervene based on the measurements they collect. For example, a continuous glucose monitor and an insulin pump which can administer insulin as needed based on readings taken from the patient in real time.
Digital Therapeutics (DTx)
Falling under the digital medicine umbrella, DTx focuses on using technology to manage, treat and prevent specific diseases or disorders. Patients can use DTx products alone or in combination with other treatments.
Unlike general digital health tools, DTx products must have clinical evidence supporting their benefits and safety before being made publicly available.
Regulatory bodies, like the U.S. FDA, oversee these products due to their higher risk profile to ensure they work as intended.
Distinguishing Features
The key differences between Digital Health, Digital Medicine and Digital therapeutics are in clinical evidence and regulatory oversight.
Clinical Evidence
While digital health might not always be evidence-based, digital medicine and digital therapeutics require evidence often in the form of randomized controlled trials. This evidence is crucial for integrating these tools into clinical practice guidelines, ensuring patients receive quality care.
Regulatory Oversight
Digital health products, being low-risk, might not always require regulatory approval. Digital medicine tools however, especially those used in drug or device development, need regulatory acceptance.
DTx products, given their high risk nature, must undergo rigorous review and certification by regulatory bodies as to support claims of risk, efficacy and intended use.
Potential Benefits
The integration of digital tools in healthcare promises numerous benefits, such as enhanced patient care, accurate diagnoses and reduced costs of care.
Digital health technologies have the potential to transform the delivery of healthcare. They can increase patient engagement, empowerment, access to care and improve its quality and safety.
Digital medicine technologies can provide patients with more accurate and timely diagnosis, more effective treatments and better disease prevention.
All three domains, digital health, digital medicine and digital therapeutics, are cost-effective solutions which can contribute to reducing healthcare costs.
Associated Risks
Digital transformation of healthcare isn’t without risks.
Any electronically stored data is at risk of being hacked or leaked. Health data is very sensitive information and a data breach risks identity theft or unauthorized data release. Inadequate data security measures can lead to unauthorized access resulting in potential legal consequences.
If data is incorrectly entered into a system, this could lead to potential errors in data interpretation and analysis. If the data is not stored properly or properly backed up, it could lead to a loss of the data entirely. The loss of critical patient information could be devastating.
While these technologies are intended to improve patient care, malicious activity is also possible. Leaked or stolen medical data could be used to create false medical records, commit insurance fraud or otherwise exploit patients
Examples in Each Domain
Digital Health
💪 Fitness trackers that monitor and record physical activity, heart rate, sleep patterns and more
🧘🏽♀️ Wellness apps that help users track their diet, exercise or wellbeing.
📲 Telemedicine platforms that allow patients to remotely consult with healthcare professionals
Digital Medicine
🍬Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGM) that monitor glucose levels in real-time, helping diabetic patients manage their condition
👩🏽💻 Remote patient monitoring tools allow clinicians to monitor patients with chronic conditions at home
🩺 Digital diagnostics that use AI to help users understand their symptoms and guide them to appropriate care
Digital Therapeutics
🫀 Chronic disease management platforms for conditions like diabetes or hypertension
🧠 Cognitive Behavioural Therapy apps using AI for depression, anxiety or sleep disorders
Still don’t know if a product is a digital health product, digital medicine or digital therapeutic?
Drop a comment on a product you have questions about. I’ll help you understand how to categorize it.
📚 Book of the Week
American Royals IV: Reign by Katharine McGee
My favorite royal family is back in ‘Reign’, the 4th book of the American Royals series.
For the Washington family, everything is a complete mess. Queen Beatrice is in a coma, Princess Samantha has run away with her boyfriend (gasp, scandal!), and Prince Jefferson is the King Regent. For some in America, this is what they hoped for, a King rather than a Queen.
In the ever-present royal struggle between romance, duty and power, the Washington family faces some of their greatest challenges yet in the final book of the series.
I absolutely love this series! My imagination runs wild picturing an American monarchy from its founding. It also helps that one of the main characters, best friend of Princess Samantha, is named Nina. 🙂
All the books in the series are lighthearted beach reads and the perfect book to take with you on an end of summer trip.
⚡️ Check This Out
A sad month for San Francisco’s iconic retail.
After 35 years in business, Nordstrom’s 312,000-square-foot San Francisco store closes.
The mall operator, Westfield, followed suit by giving up control of the downtown mall that housed Nordstrom.